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What next for the Tories on Europe?
The Conservatives' stance on the Lisbon Treaty has been attacked as a Tory MEP quits to concentrate on fighting for a referendum on Europe. What do you think David Cameron should do next?
France's minister for Europe, Pierre Lellouche, strongly criticised plans by David Cameron to repatriate powers back to Britain, saying that the Tories would "castrate" UK influence in Europe.
Meanwhile, the Eurosceptic Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan quit as the party's European legal spokesman in protest at his party's stance on the Lisbon Treaty. He says he wants to return to the backbenches to push for a vote on the EU.
What should the Tory leader's policy be towards Europe? Do you think the issue of Europe will haunt Mr Cameron the way it did previous Conservative leaders? How do you see Britain's place in Europe?
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Published:
Wednesday, 4 November, 2009, 14:08 GMT
14:08 UK
All comments as they come in
Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 16:16 GMT
16:16 UK
who cares if britain isnt gonna be a sovereign nation. If we allow the government to have control of our lives by making laws, for example making it illegal to murder someone, why is everyone so against the EU having control over our government? The EU will provide a good check on our executive and will stand for the rights of minorities. The people who signed the treaties are all elected officials representing their countries, surely they are doing what they think is best after a lot of advice
Sam Green, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 15:33 GMT
15:33 UK
Do you still believe Europe legislated on Sausages and Banana's - Get some better sources of information. - Anon
EC Commission Regulation No 2257/94.
All bananas must be "free of abnormal curvature" and at least 14 cm in length.
Class 1 cucumbers must be "practically straight" and be bent by a gradient of no more than 1/10.
Produce that does not meet the minimum standards can not at present be sold a, meaning many edible items are thrown away.
Look it up and get your facts right.
Maffia Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
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Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 15:22 GMT
15:22 UK
1st December 2009 - the day that the United Kingdom ceases to be a Sovereign nation - without the public's consultation or consent!
And I give thanks to that - Every single person giving a negative HYS comment on Europe have been spoon fed that negativity by the newspapers. Do you still believe Europe legislated on Sausages and Banana's - Get some better sources of information.
Anon
Where do you get yours, my anti-EU sentiments comes from studying it as part of politics qualification.
Steve Wright
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Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 15:08 GMT
15:08 UK
"France's minister for Europe, Pierre Lellouche, strongly criticised plans by David Cameron to repatriate powers back to Britain, saying that the Tories would "castrate" UK influence in Europe."
Ve have veyz of making ze British obey zeir orders!
.
[BROWNED_OFF], Kingdom of the blind
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Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 14:59 GMT
14:59 UK
"France's minister for Europe, Pierre Lellouche, strongly criticised plans by David Cameron to repatriate powers back to Britain, saying that the Tories would "castrate" UK influence in Europe."
Clearly, just like his Eurocrat colleagues, Pierre Lellouche finds democratic debate objectionable. England must submit to the authority and collaborate with the new leaders of Europe!
.
[BROWNED_OFF], Kingdom of the blind
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Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 14:53 GMT
14:53 UK
It makes no difference anyway.
The Tory party took us into Europe (1973), signed the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 (no referendum). that transfered sovereignty to Brussels, created the Single Currency, a Common Foreign and Security Policy, and measures to harmonise criminal justice, law enforcement, civil legal matters, asylum and immigration agreements.
1975 REFERENDUM (Labour) asking if we should STAY in Europe was 2 to 1 in favour.
Paulus, Derby
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Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 14:44 GMT
14:44 UK
Time for a world government?
Paul,
Yes maybe then we will stop killing each other for stupid reasons...
Anon
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Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 14:37 GMT
14:37 UK
But Switzerland hasn't done too badly has it?
John Burnell, Kettering
No its done rather well hanging on to the shirt tails of Europe unable to make a move without tacit agreement...
Anon
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Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 14:27 GMT
14:27 UK
1st December 2009 - the day that the United Kingdom ceases to be a Sovereign nation - without the public's consultation or consent!
And I give thanks to that - Every single person giving a negative HYS comment on Europe have been spoon fed that negativity by the newspapers. Do you still believe Europe legislated on Sausages and Banana's - Get some better sources of information.
Anon
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Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 14:27 GMT
14:27 UK
""If we leave Europe we will become some minor nation
what will most likey be force back in to Europe on a later date"
But Switzerland hasn't done too badly has it?
John Burnell, Kettering"
Is Norway consistently voted as being one of the best places in the world to live? Yes.
Is Norway in the EU? No.
Maybe these two facts are not unconnected!
[Dave__G], Camborne, United Kingdom
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Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 14:27 GMT
14:27 UK
The EU will break up eventually, as all vast, unweildly bureaucratic structures, unaccountable to the common person, do fall apart.
ian cheese, london, United Kingdom
I assume you have not been to the USA recently or do you have special knowledge about when California or any other state will secede from the Union.
Adrian Swall, Sheffield
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Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 14:24 GMT
14:24 UK
Everyone should wear a black armband on the 1st of December to mark the death of a country.
Fiona, London
What about the other 26 countries? Are they going to die too? Have their 400million inhabitants overlooked this supposed mass slaughter of their own Nation States?
[deanarabin], London, United Kingdom
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Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 14:12 GMT
14:12 UK
""Don't forget Churchill favoured a United States of Europe.
[Batson_D_Belfry] "
But not with Britain in it.
Colin Shepherd"
But that was at a time Churchill still expected the Empire to hold together. Since it didn't (and couldn't be) an isolated Britain would be a powerless one.
It would seem the Europhobes on here want an isolated Britain. Whilst they may cite Norway and the Swiss as examples outside the EU, they have much stronger links with the EU than they want the UK to have.
James T Kirk
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Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 13:57 GMT
13:57 UK
He has no choice. I cannot understand peoples shock. Once all the countries have voted yes then its law. Cameron had as much of a vote as I did on it.
I am not sure why the BBC seem to be focusing on the Conservatives. Complaining that they wont give us a referendum then complaining when Cameron says he will make it law that in future we do get a referendum. Come on BEEB, at least try and look like you are playing with a straight bat.
[Ollsbols], Horsham, United Kingdom
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Added:
Friday, 6 November, 2009, 13:53 GMT
13:53 UK
"Just because other countries have prospered by signing up to the Euro-superstate does not mean that the UK will!"
"But the UK has! In the early 1970s, the UK was the "sick man" of Europe: high inflation, low growth, lousy industrial relations, declining GDP/capita. ... the UK's economy is much stronger and in the top ranks of GDP/capita now.
James T Kirk"
The UK was a basket case in the late 1970s as well. It was Mrs T who sorted that out, not Europe.
Paul M, Staffs, UK
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