UK General ELection 7 May 2015

[Stavros]

Good point - One of the first thing Cameron has to do is pass "English MPs for English laws" Can he then get a referendum though on just England in or out of the EU 'Cos Scotland will vote in. Northern Ireland and Wales have done very well out of EU investment - but perhaps they will forget.

As usual. the election went the way it did because voters worry about the economy and the economic arguments for staying in Europe are so strong as opposed to the risks of pulling out. The out campaign will have the money backing it and the strong individuals.

What a possible place in history for Cameron - part of a small island off the coast of Europe with little influence on the world. The Empire finally dead!

My understanding is that the government will need the House of Commons to pass a bill authorising it to hold a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU. With a majority of only 12 and with the Tories still split on the issue -as is also true of the Labour party to a lesser extent but not the SNP or the Northern Ireland parties, it is a bill that could be rejected as a previous attempt was in October 2014. The dilemma is facing Cameron on the opposite side of the House. The UK is the member of the EU but Scotland wants to remain in, making the wording of the bill crucial, for example containing some sort of option for Scotland though I am not sure what that might be. The problem is that if the UK ceased to be a member of the EU so would Scotland, and the only way Scotland could re-join the EU would be if it was independent of the rest of the UK. Either way, a referendum with a 'Yes lets leave' could provoke independence in Scotland so that Cameron's attempt to maintain the Union and leave the EU -which I don't think he wants- is not possible. Just as impossible, it seems, are those reforms to the EU which Cameron thinks would make a referendum unnecessary -more flexibility on the adoption of EU regulations and directives, limits on the free movement of people through members states of the EU, etc- so that either way the choices offer an unsatisfactory outcome.
The other alternative, for the UK to leave the EU under Article 50 of the Treaty of Rome would also require a Commons vote, and without a referendum I think it would be considered illegitimate.

The irony is that if there was a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, I think most people would vote to remain in. So the next two years could be absorbed with ferocious arguments which result in no change at all.

[Laphroaig]

The irony is that if there was a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, I think most people would vote to remain in. So the next two years could be absorbed with ferocious arguments which result in no change at all.

Totally agree, but then we wouldn't be a democracy if we didn't have the debate.

[Stavros]

Totally agree, but then we wouldn't be a democracy if we didn't have the debate.

And the debates will be needed if we are to get the details the politicians are too scared to tell you before the vote.

I was not aware until today of the 'Luxembourg Compromise' which member states of the EU can opt out of EU policies if it damages the 'national interest' (see the second link below).

Policy proposals and actions that might be on the table next week:

1) An EU Referendum bill
2) the Draft Communications Bill (the 'Snooper's Charter') -forcing ISP to keep huge amounts of data on their customers, and to make that information available to the government and security services.
3) the Human Rights Act to be repealed, and be replaced with a new 'Bill of Rights'.
4) Boundary Commission to re-draw the electoral map of the UK and reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600.
5) Department of Energy and Climate Change -the budget will be slashed, but I could see this department being re-named with 'Climate change' being dropped, or it could be scrapped altogether and Energy merged with Transport or a new ministry merging other departments.
6) 'English votes for English laws' -should make for a lively debate!
7) Fiscal autonomy for Scotland -I think this needs an Act of Parliament, not really sure how the laws on taxation work.

All in the context of major cuts in government spending although the Conservatives also pledged an extra £8bn for the NHS.

Articles on these can be found here:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-10237611.html

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/...man-rights-act

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...-10235578.html

[martin48]

Nigel Farage is to remain as UKIP leader!!! Whoopee!! (more sarcasm )

[Laphroaig]

Nigel Farage is to remain as UKIP leader!!! Whoopee!! (more sarcasm )

I heard this on the radio just before I left work. Apparently his party rejected his resignation. Way to ruin my evening...

The only good news is that this guy might still get the chance to have his duel with Farage.



I wonder how you say "They don't like it up 'em." in Polish.

[holzz]

i see nothing wrong in this tory govt or their policies.

People need to man up a bit.

[peejaye]

Then you clearly not a honest decent caring person!

[Jericho]

If your attitude's, I'm alright Jack, fuck the rest of you!, then this government's right up your alley.
But for anyone who gives a shit, or has a social conscience, the next five years are going to be a fucking disaster!

[flabbybody]

sounds like our version of the Tea Party. They say they want smaller government because they don't need or want any entitlements. Until you point out that their elderly parents rely on Medicare and their bi-polar kids get subsidized meds via Medicaid.
Oh, they're not against that. Just welfare moms and food stamps

[Laphroaig]

i see nothing wrong in this tory govt or their policies.

People need to man up a bit.

Which mansion (ivory tower) did you grow up in?