Topic: | Re:How did we get into Europe ?(Ann Keen Votes against Labour Party Manifesto) | |
Posted by: | Richard Greenhough | |
Date/Time: | 11/03/08 10:01:00 |
I guess your memory is at fault, Will. Ted Heath took the UK into the EEC on a vote in parliament, despite an election commitment not to do so without the consent of the people (his idea of obtaining the people's consent turned out to be rather different from those who had previously supported him). On coming to power Harold Wilson then decided that the best way to avoid a split in the Labour Party was to hold a referendum after the event, in which both Heath and Wilson campaigned on the basis that we had only joined an economic grouping and there were minimal constitutional implications. Two-thirds of the country believed them and voted in favour; the rest of us understood the implications of the Treaty of Rome and voted against. Since that sleight of hand the British people have seen more and more of their basic political rights handed over to the EU by governments without any mandate to do so. |