IWR in the news

21/01/08

MPs must keep their referendum promise

The Telegraph

Supporters of the European Constitution, now called the Lisbon Treaty, are starting to feel smug. The threat of a "No" vote is receding. Despite the fact that 638 out of 646 MPs were elected on the basis of a manifesto commitment to a referendum, two of the three main parties have since performed a nauseating volte-face. Labour and the Lib Dems were in favour of a plebiscite until it became clear that they would lose it; now, they are suddenly making pompous declarations about Parliament being the proper place to consider such measures.

Very well. Let us take these declarations at face value. Ignore the fact that both Gordon Brown and Nick Clegg conceded the case for a referendum when they promised one in the first place. Disregard, too, the objection that Parliament cannot amend the constitution, but must simply accept or reject it, which makes a nonsense of the claim about "detailed scrutiny". Set aside the brazenness of invoking parliamentary sovereignty in support of a measure that vitiates it. Instead, let us take seriously the idea that Parliament is the fitting place to determine such questions.

If this is true, it follows that MPs are under a considerable moral obligation to act in accordance with the dignity of their chamber, the interests of their constituents and their own manifesto pledges. They must exercise their consciences independently, and not simply behave as agents of another's will. History will record which MPs voted to keep their promise of a referendum; and so will this newspaper.

We hope that our parliamentarians, who are held in no great esteem by the public, will use this opportunity to show that they are bigger men and women than is generally supposed. For the issue goes beyond party advantage, goes beyond even European integration. It is, as Michael Connarty, a Europhile Labour MP, says, a question of politicians telling their voters the truth. He and other Labour and Lib Dem MPs will have a great opportunity, when the amendment is put, to restore trust in the political class by voting for the promised referendum.

The rest of us can play a part in holding our MPs to account. We can write to them, reminding them of what they promised in their manifesto. We can lobby them in person: a lobby of Parliament is being planned for early March. And, at the very least, we can withhold our votes from those who go back on their commitments and vote to deny us a say.

Meanwhile, if the Government refuses to hold the referendum it promised, others can organise one. The main cross-party campaign for a plebiscite, I Want A Referendum, is planning to hold such polls constituency by constituency, starting with the first batch of 10 in March. We encourage our readers to get involved, both in the parliamentary lobby and in the referendums. The sovereignty of Parliament, after all, is shorthand for the sovereignty of the people. It is up to us all to show we care about keeping it.