Lib Dem Voice polled our members-only forum recently to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Some 550 party members have responded, and we’re publishing the full results.
By 2:1 majority, Lib Dems reject new EU referendum
Do you think the Government should or should not call a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union?
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32% – Should
63% – Should not
5% – Don’t know
And 92% would vote to remain if there were an in/out referendum
If there were a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union, how would you vote?
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92% – I would vote to remain a member of the European Union
5% – I would vote to leave the European Union
0% – I would not vote
3% – Don’t know
Almost half Lib Dem members back greater UK integration in EU
Thinking about Britain’s relationship with Europe, which would you most like to see?
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49% – Britain remaining in the European Union, integrating more closely with our European neighbours
34% – Britain remaining in the European Union as it is
12% – Britain remaining in the European Union, but with a repatriation of powers that means membership is on the basis of a free trade agreement and no more
2% – Britain leaving the European Union completely
4% – None of these
Here’s a selection of your comments:
Why is everything about “in”, “further in”, “out” or “further out”. The EU needs a massive amount of reform of policies – whether this is “further in” or “further out” for the UK is irrelevant to all but Daily Express journalists.
We should leave the EU but set up trading arrangements like Norway and Switzerland. Don’t forget how prosperous Hong Kong was, as a little trading outpost on the edge of a huge monolithic bloc called China!
Status quo is always easiest. IF we are to re-negotiate, let’s be clear that the dialogue will in some areas involve further integration and in other areas some repatriation.
Britain remaining in the European Union, working to create a more liberal and cost-effective EU where the principle of subsidiarity is adhered to closely.
Perhaps we don’t need more integration, but we do need to engage with the EU more effectively!
Britain does well out of its membership of the EU and the EU does well despite the many challenges it faces. When will we finally hear about the advantages of membership?
The EU is a source of so much business and academic goodness, UK society would crumble without it! As an academic who has worked on EU projects, it really is vital.
The press has spent so long putting it down that people do not understand the benefits. It there was a referendum, it would need legislation to ensure that all of the facts were given to everyone.
The euro was a big mistake, and so was the extradition treaty. But it makes no sense to be mindlessly anti-EU.
I’d like to see closer co-operation on some things (defence, foreign policy, the environment) and a lighter touch from the EU on most economic and contractual matters including health/safety and procurement. A Liberal approach should be based on the wish to bring power down to the lowest level possible, but to establish democratic structures to deal with things that can’t be handled locally.
If people vote for a real US of Europe (similar to USA) that is fine but so far nobody has bothered to ask the people and ‘the project’ proceeds by stealth.
* Stephen was Editor (and Co-Editor) of Liberal Democrat Voice from 2007 to 2015, and writes at The Collected Stephen Tall.
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11 Comments
The prospect of a referendum is simple nonsense. We can’t negotiate any of the things that the “out” side is talking about without first making deals with the other countries of the EU and the chances that they’ll even entertain offering favourable returns for a hypothetical referendum are basically zero. So any referendum will be based on a fantasy of what we’ll get: the ‘out’ voters will be voting for an unknown phantom based on the wishful thinking of the ‘out’ advocates.
Isn’t there also a fantasy of what being “in” actually means. There is no longer a uniform EU, there’s a Euro Zone, which is on a clear trajectory to federal union, and a non-Euro bloc which is not. Are we voting to continue an increasingly peripheral participation in the EU? Because plainly there is no general ambition or mandate to join the Euro.
“We should leave the EU but set up trading arrangements like Norway and Switzerland. Don’t forget how prosperous Hong Kong was, as a little trading outpost on the edge of a huge monolithic bloc called China!”
Why do people constantly harp on about China when they clearly have no understanding of that country or its economics.
My main objection to the referendum and the countless hours of largely fatuous public debate about it in the UK is that it is a gigantic distraction from what the debate really should be about: namely, how the EU must evolve not only to emerge from the prolonged economic crisis but also to become an entity that will be able to compete properly in a globalised world in which there are several other large key players. Moreover, it is essential that Britain is part of that debate and acknowledges that this country has a vital role to play in making that evolution successful. Our continental partners want that, and are growing increasingly despairing about Britons’ obsession with in-or-out. If this carries on much longer they will give up on Britain and shrug their shoulders and say, “OK, well **** off then.”
Kinda puts into proportion and perspective the occasional anti-EU comments left here on LDV. Lib Dems thankfully remain a staunchly pro-European party.
This is an issue where Im in line with the majority. Theres a general problem with referenda – if they arent on an issue the voters think is really important then they may well choose to answer some other question, eg “do you like the cuts”?
While a small minority get hysterical about The EU, for most voters its a long way down their list of priorities.
” If this carries on much longer they will give up on Britain and shrug their shoulders and say, “OK, well **** off then.”
Sounds good. An instant saving of £75 million for a referendum not needed.
@ Paul Barker
“The EU, for most voters its a long way down their list of priorities.”
This is not true. People recognise that the EU affects their lives negatively, in many subtle, and not so subtle ways.
Don’t bother reading the articles in the links below. Read instead, the comments section. And just as importantly, the many multiples of recommends, approvals, or ‘thumbs up’.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/14/lib-dems-write-off-next-election
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2262061/Beating-heart-Britain-wants-stay-EU-Cameron-rules-early-vote-says-public-fully-consulted.html#comments
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9799816/David-Cameron-We-must-stop-the-bossiness-of-Brussels-but-remain-in-EU.html#disqus_thread
Lib Dems may like to pretend that a referendum is of minor importance, but the public, very much think otherwise. Does UKIP at 16% and LibDem at 8% tell you nothing?
Those online commenters know or expect that Cameron is on the verge of trying to concoct some kind of faux referendum offer, in his ‘soon to be’, speech. But they will not wear yet more political lies and manipulation. They want an IN/OUT straight vote, and nothing less will do.
@John Dunn,
“An instant saving of £75 million for a referendum not needed.”
An instant loss of revenue of £75bn, as depression ensues.
oh no, the heavens are falling in!
LibDems should be concentrating on making the point that IN LAW if there are any changes proposed to European treaties THEN THERE HAS TO BE A REFERENDUM. LibDems voted for this. In the meantime we should be co-operating with member states to get out of the financial crisis we are in (which is getting worse by the day as the Euro strengthens). And if we want to be a little bit naughty, we should point out that this is only a Conservative problem.