Comments on: European Constitution http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/04/21/453 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 04:17:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Lodjer http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/04/21/453#comment-786 Lodjer Thu, 22 Apr 2004 11:47:39 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/04/21/453#comment-786 "the Government was not going to go into the referendum with the intention of losing it. He pointed out that a no vote would also place this country in a difficult position" That statement - coupled with the repeated refusal to entertain hypothetical situations - seems to indicate that the referendum is given not to listen to public opinion, but as a pr exersise, with "yes" the only reasonable vote. The whole thing has an air of inevitability about it (a little like the run up to Iraq) yet I can't help thinking the government will have to do some very fast talking to overcome the generally conservative anti-euro populace. Unlike Iraq, and everything else, I hope Tony is right. "the Government was not going to go into the referendum with the intention of losing it. He pointed out that a no vote would also place this country in a difficult position"

That statement - coupled with the repeated refusal to entertain hypothetical situations - seems to indicate that the referendum is given not to listen to public opinion, but as a pr exersise, with "yes" the only reasonable vote. The whole thing has an air of inevitability about it (a little like the run up to Iraq) yet I can’t help thinking the government will have to do some very fast talking to overcome the generally conservative anti-euro populace.

Unlike Iraq, and everything else, I hope Tony is right.

]]> By: DEGREEK http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/04/21/453#comment-785 DEGREEK Wed, 21 Apr 2004 22:42:01 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/04/21/453#comment-785 What do you think? What do you think?

]]> By: Uncarved Block http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/04/21/453#comment-784 Uncarved Block Wed, 21 Apr 2004 20:51:48 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2004/04/21/453#comment-784 Michael Howard said at today's PMQs that if the referendum produced a 'no' vote he would never sign up to a European constitution. At the last test of public opinion (the general election) people voted not to have a Conservative Government - so will Michael Howard commit himself to never allowing a Conservative Government in the future? Michael Howard said at today’s PMQs that if the referendum produced a ‘no’ vote he would never sign up to a European constitution.

At the last test of public opinion (the general election) people voted not to have a Conservative Government - so will Michael Howard commit himself to never allowing a Conservative Government in the future?

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