WE WANT A REFERENDUM

Parliamentary column WE WANT A REFERENDUM www.rmt.org.uk :: november 2007 :: RMTnews 9 I am very disappointed that the government has not tackled the deficiencies in the new national boatmasters’ license regime brought about by EU rules. These moves have changed the system that has maintained strict qualifying standards on watermen and lightermen since the 1989 Marchioness disaster. This means that we are caving in to the lower standards specified in the EU directive that seeks to harmonise licenses across the EU at a weaker, more dangerous level. From now on, boatmasters operating in my constituency will only have to be in training for two years instead of five. The specific local knowledge for the unique operating environment of the River Thames has been downgraded from two years to six months. This failure in maintaining control over our own laws shows the importance of keeping jurisdiction over such vital matters. The EU Constitution has been brought back from the grave as the so-called “Reform Treaty”. This treaty threatens to take away our power to veto the EU in 60 new areas – everything from transport to energy policy to employment policy to public services like health and education. Even sport is included. This means the UK could be outvoted on important issues which directly affect our citizens. I believe it is essential that the public should get a vote on such an important document which will sweep powers away from our elected representatives and place them in the hands of Eurocrats who cannot be removed democratically. At the last general election, the Labour manifesto promised to give the British people a referendum on the treaty. I was proud of that promise, and it is one that I take seriously. Now my government, all of whom were elected on that same promise, are trying to backtrack, claiming that what we have before us is a new treaty. The old treaty fell when it was democratically rejected by the French and the Dutch. Across Europe, the leaders of all the countries who signed up to this treaty recognise that it is almost identical to the old, rejected one. The author of the constitution, former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing has admitted “All the earlier proposals will be in the new text but hidden and disguised in some way”. Yet still Gordon Brown says there is no need for a vote. Although the Prime Minister speaks of having achieved “red lines” to protect the national interest, these are effectively a distraction. They are essentially the same ‘red’ lines the Government painted in 2004 when they promised a referendum in the first place. They are limited, and if we dare to use them, the EU will impose charges on us! We need a constructive debate on our relationship with the EU. The public are tired of the massive bureaucracy gradually encroaching on everything we do. The bureaucrats of Brussels must not be allowed to dictate to us. The views of the British public should not be by-passed by some re-drafting of the Consitution. I called for a referendum on the Maastricht Treaty when the Conservatives were in power in 1992, and it is just as important to have one now. The Prime Minister has already made welcome U-turns on super- casinos, 24-hour drinking and the re-classification of cannabis – those were tough decisions, but they were the right decisions to take. He must understand that the people of the United Kingdom overwhelmingly want to see him make the right decision here. My postbag has been full of messages from my constituents in Vauxhall. They want him to keep his word and let them have a say. Make sure that you contact your MP and urge them to support a democratic vote. Kate Hoey EEDOM NDUM