Blair’s Opposition to Referendum on EU Treaty is Scandalous and Undemocratic

The pitiful approach taken by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, on opposing a referendum on a new EU Treaty – which has been intended as a replacement of the Constitution – is both scandalous and undemocratic. Such an erroneous position towards the EU Treaty Referendum demonstrates only contempt for the British people.

In wake of the French and Dutch referendums of 2005, when electorates voted against a European constitution, and a recent poll in March 2007 showing that only 25 per cent of the Europeans felt that life in their country had improved since it had joined the EU, it is clear that now is the time for the UK to take stock and hold public referendums on all existing treaties.

The Prime Minister’s position in preventing public referendum on the EU Treaty is fundamentally wrong and democratically illegitimate. To make the European Union an institution which is beneficial to Britain and the other Member States, and thereby achieve greater democracy among European nations, it is essential for the UK to hold a public referendum and thereby renegotiate its position on the binding treaties of Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice. Now is the time for the European Union’s thoroughgoing reform, not more mismanagement at the hands of a Labour government which has officially turned its back on the British electorate.

Tony Blair’s opposition to the referendum on the EU Treaty comes at a time when he has also problematically pledged to Parliament and the public that EU criminal law would not affect UK law and furthermore, that he would leave his position in June.


Bill Cash MP, Chairman of the European Foundation, said:
“By virtue of living in a democracy, a new EU Treaty as well as the existing EU treaties need to be put to referendum in order to support the wishes of the British electorate. As a democratic country, it is essential that we put in place national referendums on the new treaty and all other existing treaties. To not do so is a gross injustice. It is undemocratic and treats the British people with contempt.”