alexpgp | Referendum? We don't need no stinkin' referendum!

From the Daily Mail:

Yesterday will go down in history as the day our politicians surrendered most of what was left of Britain's sovereignty and trusted the nation's future to a European superstate.

It will also go down as one of the blackest ever for our democracy.

With honourable exceptions - though far too few to affect the result - both Government and opposition MPs deliberately broke the solemn pledge they made to the electorate in 2005.

Every Labour candidate went into that election committed to an unequivocal pledge to call a referendum on what was then called the EU Constitutional Treaty - now known, after a few cosmetic tweaks, as the Lisbon Treaty.

Their manifesto said: "It is a good treaty for Britain and for the new Europe. We will put it to the British people in a referendum and campaign wholeheartedly for a "Yes" vote to keep Britain a leading nation in Europe."

Not much room for misunderstanding there, was there?

Yet last night, the great majority of Labour MPs trooped through the division lobbies to vote against a referendum.

What hope is there for democracy, when MPs pledge one thing to get elected - and then do the exact opposite when the voters have given them their trust?

Apparently taking a lead from the French government, which was apparently betrayed by its electorate in 2005 when the latter refused to ratify the EU Constitution.

Someone ought to suggest that Parliament now disband itself, as a cost-cutting measure.

Cheers...