Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is a passionate pro-European. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA
Posted on 11/11/2010 4:36:16 PM PST by SunkenCiv
A rift opened up in the coalition tonight after the Liberal Democrats accused the Tories of pandering to "populist and nationalist" sentiment over plans to subject any future transfer of sovereignty to Brussels to a referendum.
Andrew Duff, an ally of Nick Clegg and the leader of the Lib Dems in the European parliament, rounded on a parliamentary bill which includes a "referendum lock" for any transfer of sovereignty.
Duff said: "The move seems to be calculated to appeal to a populist and nationalist constituency which undoubtedly exists in the UK. But referenda will surely weaken the powers of Westminster over EU matters just when the Lisbon treaty provides opportunities for parliaments to engage constructively with the EU.
"The coalition should not impede the steady democratic evolution of the treaty-based rules which bind all EU states. If the UK were to sacrifice its credibility as a trustworthy partner it will relegate itself to an uninfluential offshore destination."
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Gotta love that line of b.s. -- "the steady democratic evolution of the treaty-based rules which bind all EU states".
...the European Union bill which guarantees that any changes to EU treaties that "moves a power or an area of policy from the UK to the EU" will have to be approved in a referendum. Clegg, a passionate pro-European, agreed to the bill after David Cameron abandoned plans to repatriate social and employment laws. In an attempt to reach out to Tory Eurosceptics, who are angry after Cameron abandoned his campaign for a cut or a freeze in the EU's £107bn budget next year, Lidington has ensured that the bill defines in minute detail what constitutes a transfer of power
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is a passionate pro-European. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA
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