The power of EU issues
If there is any doubt about the impact of the EU on politics in Europe, consider the irony that several far-right, ultra-"nationalist" parties have, for the second January in a row, tried to create a European "nationalist" political party. (See EU far-right groups to form party.)The EU also affects British politics. It creates divisions within parties and causes elected political leaders to oppose a referendum on the new EU treaty.
Push-pull: Europe still divides all three main parties—against themselves
"ALTHOUGH most Britons prefer to ignore it, the European Union (EU) has played a momentous role in their country's recent past...
"The shadow cast by Brussels is lengthening over Gordon Brown's premiership... [The] House of Commons began... debate on the EU reform treaty... That Parliament is ratifying it rather than voters is itself controversial...
"Most voters want the promised plebiscite, as do some Labour backbenchers—18 of whom signed an amendment that is expected to be put to a Commons vote.
"The government, knowing that the treaty would almost certainly be thrown out were it put to the public, makes much of the fact that it amends rather than replaces previous treaties, and so need not be. Further enlargement of the EU... requires the institutional reforms contained in the treaty... Rejecting a document that other European nations regard as gallingly generous to Britain... could even force a showdown over British membership of the EU...
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Labels: EU, parties, politics, UK
posted by Ken Wedding @ 11:11 AM
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