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U.K. Referendum Call Rattles Europe's Gilded Cage
Investor's Business Daily ^ | 24 Jan 2013 | Editorial

Posted on 01/25/2013 11:32:44 AM PST by IBD editorial writer

European Union: U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron startled Europe by calling for a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the EU. It was a bid to sweeten Britain's EU terms, but may open a genie bottle. Promising that if he is re-elected in 2015, a referendum on Britain's membership with the EU will follow, Cameron's gambit is in part a bid to pull the fast-growing United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) back into the conservative fold. But it's also seen as leverage against Brussels to lighten Britain's membership terms so that Cameron can get elected on a better economy for Britain. So his call for a "no" vote on his own referendum amounts to a "very curious position," as conservative politico Michael Portillo put it. And in reality, it probably won't work the way he expects, because he's playing with some powerful economic forces.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.investors.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: britain; eu; referendum; uk
There are an awful lot of legitimate reasons for Britain to vote yes in this referendum.
1 posted on 01/25/2013 11:32:52 AM PST by IBD editorial writer
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To: IBD editorial writer

>> calling for a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the EU

Nowhere in the article does it state, or even clearly imply, what the vote means.

The sort-of implication is that a “yes” vote means “leave the EU”.

Which is it? Yes = leave, or no = leave?


2 posted on 01/25/2013 11:48:46 AM PST by Nervous Tick (Without GOD, men get what they deserve.)
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To: IBD editorial writer

Either way, the Brits lose, they are either part of the European totalitarian state, over-run with moslems, with a banking crisis,
or they have a homegrown totalitarian state, over-run with moslems, with a banking crisis.

But liberty is dead in both.


3 posted on 01/25/2013 12:05:10 PM PST by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
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To: IBD editorial writer

Besides, the EU will do what it always does in the face of negative national votes. Proceed as if the vote never happened, and arrange another vote,, and another, and another, until they get the result they want.


4 posted on 01/25/2013 12:07:13 PM PST by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
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To: IBD editorial writer

You can bet all the Free Trader Communist Globalists are ready to drop a pantload if Britain bolts the EU. You can also bet those meetings in Davos this past week has been to find ways to convince/bribe/threaten/whine “protectionism” to keep the Brits tied down to the EU

The crumbling of Free Trade Commuist Globalism would be a huge stimulus to the economy in the US and abroad


5 posted on 01/25/2013 12:25:47 PM PST by SeminoleCounty (GOP = Greenlighting Obama's Programs)
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To: IBD editorial writer

This rather blatant trick, and yes, I call it a trick, to get reelected at the expense of UKIP, also presents an opportunity for UKIP leader Nigel Farage to double down.

The suspicion is that Cameron is now promising to give a referendum *if reelected*, but will back out of it once reelected, using whatever excuse. If he seriously wanted to give a referendum, he is now in power, why wait?

However, there are other twists. UKIP is seeking to tie a vote with leaving Europe to ending the highly unpopular global warming nonsense making life in the UK hard. If the UK backs out of Europe, lots of other European scams and schemes will come to a screeching halt as well.


6 posted on 01/25/2013 12:43:30 PM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Best WoT news at rantburg.com)
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To: SeminoleCounty

The EU is much more than a free-trade zone. If it were only a free-trade zone, it would have very few opponents.

Oh, and BTW, the vast majority of opponents of free trade are leftists — especially unionists.


7 posted on 01/25/2013 1:45:18 PM PST by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

You’re spot on about the political movements in the statement by DC, it’s basically asking the UK public to give the Cons another term.

Given that this one is working out so bad (leaving aside the causes and who’s to blame), its obvious they are banking on promising lots next time around and capture as many ‘rightist’ votes as possible.

Electioneering, politics, etc.


8 posted on 01/25/2013 3:03:31 PM PST by Smartisan
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy
If he seriously wanted to give a referendum, he is now in power, why wait?

His argument is that he intends to negotiate a better deal, and he can't ask the people to approve or disapprove that deal until it's on the table; and that in any case the consequences of the Eurozone crisis will include inevitable treaty changes and changes in the relationship between Eurozone and non-Eurozone EU states, again meaning that you can't ask the people to vote on an outcome which is at present unknown.

There is some logic in this position, although as a strategy it's full of obvious holes. But he didn't have a great deal of choice - without some such compromise as this, it's doubtful he could hold his party together.

9 posted on 01/26/2013 5:00:50 AM PST by Winniesboy
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To: Winniesboy

His best negotiating advantage would come if he scheduled a referendum but far enough in advance that it would give the EU time to respond, but hold their feet to the fire, since they, likewise, would not otherwise negotiate in good faith.

And he could use a “carrot and stick” approach, by giving more alternatives than an “up or down” vote, based on how the negotiations are going.

Eventually, the referendum could include several variants, as separate issues, with a minimum number of votes needed to pass any particular variation, etc.

He might even throw in some wild cards, like denationalizing the BBC with the elimination of the television tax.

And absolutely schedule it before the election, to avoid both the appearance of duplicity, and to have a chance at canceling the referendum if it becomes wildly unpopular.


10 posted on 01/26/2013 5:36:40 AM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Best WoT news at rantburg.com)
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