Just a few days ago, Ming Campbell said that a referendum on the EU Constitution "Reform Treaty" was "not necessary" because the treaty was "sufficiently different" from the constitution. But he seems to have changed his mind on referendums.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union...
But he said the public deserved an "honest debate" on Europe - and "that means a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU"...
He said he wanted an "out and out debate" to flush out Eurosceptics on the Conservative benches who had "taken comfort" in that party's call for a vote on the EU treaty. (BBC)
So he wants a vote on the larger issue of EU membership but not on the direction of that membership. That makes no sense. Apart from UKIP, there are few who really advocate leaving the EU entirely. The difference is over opinions on the direction of the EU and the amount of power that the undemocratic institution should have over sovereign governments and parliaments. Calling for a referendum on EU membership of the whole misses the entire point, and will be used as an excuse for more and more integration into the EU without asking the people.But he said the public deserved an "honest debate" on Europe - and "that means a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU"...
He said he wanted an "out and out debate" to flush out Eurosceptics on the Conservative benches who had "taken comfort" in that party's call for a vote on the EU treaty. (BBC)
What Ming is trying to do is simply to have it both ways - more integration with the EU but without being blamed for it because he "offers" a referendum on EU membership. Very simply, both Ming and the Liberal Democrats as a whole have to make up their mind - either they are democrats and thus allow the people to vote on these things or they're not. They can't keep putting their left leg in, then their left leg out [shake it all about] all the time. Pick one position and hold it. Stop trying to do the Hokey Cokey.
You put your left leg inSource: BBC
You put your left leg out
In, out, in, out,
shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Cokey and you turn around
That's what it's all about...
Woah, the hokey cokey,
Woah, the hokey cokey,
Woah, the hokey cokey,
Knees bent, arms stretched, ra ra ra!
