Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2011 | Page 12
andrew turner mp
Island Life - February/March 2011
Andrew Turner MP
24 The Mall,
Carisbrooke Road,
Newport IW, PO30 1BW
[email protected]
Tel: 01983 522404
Island MP
says 'NO'
to EU bill
Britain voted for change at the last
world (one of which has compulsory
‘referendum lock’ is not enough to
election, and it is some eight months
voting), will be put to the nation in
catch all of the amendments or Treaty
since the Coalition Government took
May. However, I believe the public
changes.
over, inheriting some terrible problems
would much prefer a referendum on
There are intrinsic problems with
including an economic and financial
our involvement with the EU, which
the Bill itself. A Minister – perhaps
crisis and deep social problems. We
they believe they were promised. Sadly,
of another Party or in a coalition –
have made a start in tackling many of
no such option is on the table at the
will decide whether a proposal is
these issues; although there have been
moment.
"significant" enough for a referendum
tough decisions; we are on the way to
Many MPs are very concerned about a
to be called. Any government
building a better, stronger society for
failure by the Coalition to curb existing
desperate to avoid a referendum may
the future.
EU powers. To some extent that is a
try to play down the significance. The
This process will not always be plain
consequence of coalition between one
Minister’s decision will be subject to
sailing. There have been a series of
party, naturally suspicious of the EU,
judicial review; but these decisions
rebellions, particularly over Europe
and another which largely supports
should be made in Parliament by
as many people oppose our further
more centralised government at the
elected representatives. We have
integration with the European Union.
European level.
watched with dismay the way judges
Many MPs, including myself, have lined
Even more worrying is the new EU Bill.
have interpreted the well-meaning, but
up to challenge, and ultimately voted
It provides that any future EU Treaty
now completely discredited European
against the Government’s policy.
that transfers significant powers away
Human Rights Act.
In these difficult times it is important
from the UK must be agreed by the
Unfortunately, I do not believe the
to show our commitment to putting
British people in a referendum – but is
new EU Bill will cause those who decide
the national interest first. We cannot
that enough? It was promised there
European policy, to change course and
do that if we are not an independent
would be no further "erosion of British
it is time for stronger actions. That is
nation. We face continual erosion of
sovereignty" – but there is widespread
why, to the EU Bill, I say NO, NO, NO!
the rights of our Parliament to decide
concern that the new Bill will not
the laws of the United Kingdom.
prevent
Too
many directives emanate from the
future
EU’s convoluted legislative processes,
power
instead of laws debated in Parliament
grabs from
by elected representatives answerable
Brussels.
to their constituents for the decisions
The
they take.
proposed
The deal made with the Liberal
Democrats on entering coalition was
a referendum on moving away from
our traditional straightforward system,
where the person who gets the most
votes wins. The proposal to change to
Alternative Vote, a complicated system
used in only three countries in the
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