Comments on: European Constitution http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/29/417 Every day the Prime Minister's Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:08:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Chris Lightfoot http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/29/417#comment-669 Chris Lightfoot Wed, 31 Mar 2004 14:18:36 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/29/417#comment-669 Neither-- just a desire for simplicity. After all, the Americans manage with a comparatively short constitution, despite the fact that their federal government has much more power than does the EU. Is the releationship between the EU and its member states really so complicated that it needs 200 pages to describe it? (There's lots more EU legislation, much of it very complicated, often for good reasons. But the Constitution itself should be as short and clear as possible, so that any European can understand what rights and obligations it creates for them and for the governments of their countries.) Neither– just a desire for simplicity. After all, the Americans manage with a comparatively short constitution, despite the fact that their federal government has much more power than does the EU. Is the releationship between the EU and its member states really so complicated that it needs 200 pages to describe it? (There’s lots more EU legislation, much of it very complicated, often for good reasons. But the Constitution itself should be as short and clear as possible, so that any European can understand what rights and obligations it creates for them and for the governments of their countries.)

]]> By: nigel http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/29/417#comment-668 nigel Wed, 31 Mar 2004 11:33:55 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/29/417#comment-668 Chris Lightfoot says, of the proposed EU constitution: "As I've said before, I'll vote against the thing until they can get it down to one or two sides of A4." Is this a cry for form over content or a desire for brevity at the expense of clarity? Answers please, on two sides of A4. Chris Lightfoot says, of the proposed EU constitution: "As I’ve said before, I’ll vote against the thing until they can get it down to one or two sides of A4."

Is this a cry for form over content or a desire for brevity at the expense of clarity?

Answers please, on two sides of A4.

]]> By: Chris Lightfoot http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/29/417#comment-665 Chris Lightfoot Tue, 30 Mar 2004 21:02:59 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/29/417#comment-665 Hmm. I agree on Beverley Hughes, but the Constitution might still be a live issue if we or one of the other member states reject the thing in a referendum. I also disagree that a referendum "couldn't be conducted in an atmosphere of reasonable and fair debate". I don't see why this should be any different in the case of the EU constitution to the circumstances of a general election. At least the Constitution isn't a manifest object and can't be followed around the country by a man from the Sun in a giant chicken suit. A more serious objection to holding a referendum is that the Constitution is enormous and pretty incomprehensible. If you believe that the meaning of laws should be comprehensible to those to whom they apply, then you'd reject the Constitution out of hand (as well as a lot of current legislation and the existing EU treaties too, but there's no chance of being offered a choice on those). As I've said before, I'll vote against the thing until they can get it down to one or two sides of A4. Hmm. I agree on Beverley Hughes, but the Constitution might still be a live issue if we or one of the other member states reject the thing in a referendum.

I also disagree that a referendum "couldn’t be conducted in an atmosphere of reasonable and fair debate". I don’t see why this should be any different in the case of the EU constitution to the circumstances of a general election. At least the Constitution isn’t a manifest object and can’t be followed around the country by a man from the Sun in a giant chicken suit.

A more serious objection to holding a referendum is that the Constitution is enormous and pretty incomprehensible. If you believe that the meaning of laws should be comprehensible to those to whom they apply, then you’d reject the Constitution out of hand (as well as a lot of current legislation and the existing EU treaties too, but there’s no chance of being offered a choice on those). As I’ve said before, I’ll vote against the thing until they can get it down to one or two sides of A4.

]]> By: Marek Ostrowski http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/29/417#comment-663 Marek Ostrowski Tue, 30 Mar 2004 17:13:23 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/29/417#comment-663 Really? I'll bet that the EU constitution and Beverley Hughes's competence are matters of supreme irrelevant this time next year. I wouldn't hold a referendum on the EU constitution not because I don't approve of democracy, but because I know it couldn't be conducted in an atmosphere of reasonable and fair debate. And the BNP's miniscule involvement in politics will increase (if it does at all) because of the panic and distortions of the media, not because of anything the Government does or doesn't do. Really? I’ll bet that the EU constitution and Beverley Hughes’s competence are matters of supreme irrelevant this time next year.

I wouldn’t hold a referendum on the EU constitution not because I don’t approve of democracy, but because I know it couldn’t be conducted in an atmosphere of reasonable and fair debate.

And the BNP’s miniscule involvement in politics will increase (if it does at all) because of the panic and distortions of the media, not because of anything the Government does or doesn’t do.

]]> By: Hipster http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/29/417#comment-659 Hipster Tue, 30 Mar 2004 14:16:40 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/03/29/417#comment-659 Lack of a referendum on this plus the lying and cheating on immigration under Hughes is likely to finish Labour as a whole as well as Blair as a person. Worse - it is likely to increase BNP participation in politics. Labour MP's need to get a grip Hipster Lack of a referendum on this plus the lying and cheating on immigration under Hughes is likely to finish Labour as a whole as well as Blair as a person. Worse - it is likely to increase BNP participation in politics.
Labour MP’s need to get a grip
Hipster

]]>