You are here: Home » Comment »

Our priority should be jobs – not a referendum that would put jobs at risk

October 25, 2011 2:26 pm

Author:

Tags:

Share this Article

Once again we have been forced to witness an out-of-touch Conservative Party tearing itself apart over Europe. The government was always going to win the EU referendum vote, and Parliament has made the right decision. But David Cameron has been weakened both at home and abroad, at a time when what we really need is strong leadership.

In the current economic climate, the number one priority of all politicians should be boosting jobs and tackling the grave economic situation we face.  A referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union would not generate a single long-term job or do anything to help hard working families who are struggling to make ends meet.  In fact, if we seriously considered giving up our place in the most powerful trading bloc in the world, Britain would jeopardise its position as a credible world player and put foreign investment into the UK at risk.  And if the Eurosceptics were to win such a referendum, helped by the disproportionately anti-European press, it would be disastrous.  Approximately 3.5 million British jobs depend on Britain’s access to the single market, and if we do not have a voice at the table where the common rules for that market are made, we will end up like Norway, implementing all European laws without having any say on their content.

Over the last few months, whilst the Conservative Party have been indulging in naval-gazing and internal disputes, Labour MEPs have been working hard to pass laws on bankers’ bonuses, secure long term reform of the financial services sector,  reduce data roaming charges and secure new rights for Brits who fall victim to crime in other EU countries.  In order to get these results we actively and positively engage with our colleagues from different countries.

David Cameron needs to be doing the same.  The Eurozone crisis is our crisis too – but, having lost credibility with his counterparts, the Prime Minister is not showing the leadership we need.  At the last European Summit Nicolas Sarkosy is reported to have told Cameron to stop “interfering”.  He desperately needs to focus on rebuilding relations with other EU leaders to deliver a stable solution to the Eurozone crisis.

Jobs depend on it, and that is what really matters to the British people.

Related posts:

  1. Jobs growth at risk from cuts: 8 in the morning – December 8th
  2. We should have a referendum on Lisbon, too
  3. Without clarity, the EU referendum debate is dangerous
  4. As expected Labour will oppose EU referendum bill
  5. Time for the referendum people really want
  • http://twitter.com/MarkLScarbs Mark L. Scarborough

    Considering EU regulations and red-tape harm business growth and job creation, your argument is not as clear cut as you suggest. There would have been nothing wrong with having the referedum and voting to renegotiate our terms with the EU. The EU is in a poor position at present, thus a great time to stand up and inject some logic into the UK’s relationship with the EU.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

      There is no ‘renegitiation’ possible. Either we are members or we are not. The renegotiation issue is a smokescreen

      I’m intrigued to know what the CBI and other major businesses think about the option of coming out of the EU

      • Anonymous

        I do not think my Union speaks polish, hence not to many are in the Union

    • http://twitter.com/Newsbot9 Newsbot9

      “Considering EU regulations and red-tape harm business growth and job creation ”

      Prove it. The UK is per the Ease of Doing Business Index VERY easy to set up companies in, as are the highly, highly socialist Nordic countries.  You have no concept of an actually highly-regulated business.

       Your “logic” is that of isolation.

  • Anonymous

    Three major house building  program with new houses, walk onto the site now and you will see broken down old vans with Polish names as Polish firm under cut the rates for bricklayers electrician plumbers. SO I think more and more people will be saying is it worth staying in when this happens

  • Sam

    Lets be frank, yesterday’s debate was pointless at this time; but there is going to be another referendum on the EU sooner rather than later. The eurozone will want, at minimum, to move to closer fiscal union which will require a treaty change. This will need to be put to a referendum here together with any powers that have been repatriated. Indeed, such a move by the eurozone will have profound implications for those EU members outside the zone not least because that the eurozone members form a bloc that can dominate QMV (that is one reason why Cameron stood up to Sarkozy). There is visceral loathing of the EU and all its works amongst some in UKIP and on the right. But it would be very shortsighted not to accept that there is grave unease amongst a much wider section of the public across the political spectrum.

  • charles.ward

    Thank God Prime Minister Milliband isn’t meeting with Sarkosy. 

    “Yes, Mr Sarkozy the Euro was a brilliant sucess, how much money do you want to bail out your amazing single currency?  Would you like to tax our banks as well?  Do you have any more regulations that will stiffle our businesses?   Don’t worry, we don’t mind if the French just ignore them.  No need to discuss the CAP, waste, or curruption.  Would you like me to bend over further?”

    • Anonymous

      Troll

  • SouthEastVoter

    80% of MP’s ingore 70% of the voters wishes and deny a referendum. Very intouch

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

    There simply isn’t the facility to ‘repatriate powers’. The Tories must know this, which is why they are actually wanting the UK to leave. The only vaguely coherent, but ridiculous , proposal as to what we should do instead is trade with India, China and South America. 

    • Anonymous

      That’s a bit silly, people buy from us because they need the goods, not because we are part of the EU

      • Sm

        Or more to the point people sell to us because they need our money not because we are in the EU!

    • charles.ward

      If the EU constitution needs to be changed (requiring a unanimous vote) then the UK could negotiate a repatriation of powers in exchange for whatever changes the other countries wanted.

      It’s funny how proponents of EU integration never argue on the merits of such integration buth rather that it is inevitable.

      You mention trade, sometimes being in the EU hurts our trade with other countries.  One example of how I would like to do more trade with China for example is with energy saving light bulbs.  Unfortunately there is a massive EU tarrif on importing these from China (which helps German lightbulb manufacturers) but means we have to pay a much higher price in this country.

      • http://twitter.com/Newsbot9 Newsbot9

        Oh yes, so those 35p bulbs which last 3-4 years are “much higher” priced? Oh, right, those pesky regs which mean German workers don’t get poisoned at the factories.

    • Sam

      Mike – I have heard this point made, but the fact is that any new treaty powers could include repatriation. It is the same principle that allows for opt outs – which have been well established for thirty years. If, when it comes, the new treaty or amended old  treaty, includes repatriations (or, if you like, opt outs) that will make it much easier to sell to the public.

  • Franwhi

    Glennis you are mistaken, although I wish you weren’t, when you say “Once again we have been forced to witness an out-of-touch Conservative Party tearing itself apart over Europe”

    The Conservative Party at large are not out of touch on this issue but merely reflecting UK public opinion-  however it would not behove you well to say that the UK public are out of touch. far easier to blame the opposition.

    Any real substantial debate on Europe will need to be informed and to date the UK public are not well informed on the benefits of Europe nor the financial risk of being outside the EU - something all the political parties should share responsibility for – along with in even larger part the malevolent gutter press.

    As for there being more important priorities than a referendum yes we all accept that argument but we know in politics timing is everything and you don’t always get to choose the timing. Often the best you can do is decide on a current direction of travel and though I’m pro-European I don’t feel many of my fellow citizens are travelling in my direction on this issue at this time.

    However I would still defend their democratic right to participate in setting the agenda on this issue and don’t understand why so many parliamenterians have such contempt for these efforts that they try to circumvent, belittle and obstruct. Clearly if an issue is important to 100 000 people it is ergo important and must be accorded due respect and priority among competing issues. Is that not the art in the art of politics ?      

    • Jjpeades

      “merely reflecting UK public opinion”

      Completely wrong, I’m afraid.

      When the question is asked in a loaded way IE: Do you support leaving/staying in EU the numbers are high.

      However, when asked what the main concerns of the electorate are, only 3% responded with EU issues (recent Mori poll). Most replied, economy and jobs. Thus, Glenis is 100% correct in her assertions.

  • charles.ward

    As part of the EEA Norway doesn’t have to conform to EU law in the areas of agriculture and fisheries.  As the CAP is about half of the EU budget this is a significant saving from not being in the EU.

    If the UKs net contribution to the EU was cut in half this would represent billions of pounds a year.

    On the subject of jobs, there are even more jobs in the EU that depend on us being part of the single market, I’m sure we could negotiate a fair trade deal with the EU as a member of EFTA.

    It’s funny that you bring up Norway as an example of how disasterous it would be to leave the EU as Norway is actually doing pretty well for itself and it is often brought up by the left as an example to follow.

    • http://twitter.com/Newsbot9 Newsbot9

       The Nordic Countries in general, not Norway. And the fact is, Sarzoky’s reaction can be taken as typical of how the UK would be *screwed* on any EFTA deal.

      Norway complies with the VAST majority of EU regs, has to lobby for changes it needs without any actual influence  – we’d pay proportionately £1.7 billion in per year, lose our veto and have to give up many of our current opt-outs like the WTD

  • Smconnell

    Its a strange argument really. Why are the press disproportionately anti Europe? Well because their readers are disproportionately anti Europe which is why it’s puzzling that so many on the left continue to pretend that it is only hardline rightwingers that have any interest in a referendum. It’s actually the public that are calling for this and all three main parties should be ashamed of themselves for shooting this down.

    As for sarkozy telling Cameron to stop interfering? Are we actually suggesting that that was a good thing? I’m sure sarkozy would like things to remain exactly as they are but does it not strike anyone else as odd that for all our supposed clout that we would be giving away if we left the EU, when we do actually disagree with France or Germany on an issue we told to stop interfering?

  • Anonymous

    Ms Willmott is correct in stating that many jobs would be lost if we left the EU – her job for instance would disappear along with those of her UK colleagues in Brussels and Strasbourg. Many more though would be created by our departure from the EU because our exit would herald a period of economic growth.

    Where I consider her to be mistaken is when she says that Norway has to implement all EU laws. It does not have to follow the restrictions of the Common Agriculture Policy, the Common Fisheries Policy and its citizens are not subject to the hideous EU Arrest Warrant.

    • http://twitter.com/Newsbot9 Newsbot9

      Oh yes,  growth. Like Argntina. When we’d recovered from the massive depression, in 2025 we might be back at 2000 figures!

      And you’re quite wrong – the EUAW applies fully to Norway

  • http://twitter.com/Newsbot9 Newsbot9

     Cameron was being an obnoxious ***** as always. The UK has opted out, that means it doesn’t get a say.

Latest

  • Comment Planning the revolution – Labour and the Spending Review

    Planning the revolution – Labour and the Spending Review

    By David Robinson

    In four weeks time the Chancellor will announce the results of the 2015 spending Review. There won’t be many winners but some will have lost more than others. Political commentators and discussion forums will pass judgement and public sector managers will, yet again, pick through the debris, making do and mending from what ever they can salvage. Before we get overtaken by the detail we should reflect on the bigger picture. What ever the chancellor says on June 26th it [...]

    Read more →
  • Comment A call for action at the G8

    A call for action at the G8

    By Ivan Lewis

    In less than a month’s time, the UK hosts the G8 Summit. With hunger, tax, trade and transparency all on the agenda, the UK has a unique opportunity to show global leadership on these issues. The scale of hunger is devastating. There is enough food in the world for everyone, yet 1 billion people still go hungry. 2.3 million children every year die from malnutrition – to put that in perspective, that is around 16,000 children every day. Or one [...]

    Read more →
  • News TUC suggests Football World Cup vote should be re-run – Media roundup: May 24th, 2013

    TUC suggests Football World Cup vote should be re-run – Media roundup: May 24th, 2013

    Subscribers to our morning email get the best of LabourList – including the Media and blog round up – every weekday morning. If you were a subscriber you would have already received this in your inbox. You can sign up here. TUC suggests Football World Cup vote should be re-run “The TUC along with its international equivalent – the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) – is calling on UEFA to address the appalling treatment of workers and players in Qatar and [...]

    Read more →
  • Featured A Northern Tory that Labour should be afraid of

    A Northern Tory that Labour should be afraid of

    By Mark Ferguson

    The Labour Party spends a great deal of time beating itself up over its performance in Southern England. We know it simply isn’t good enough, but we can’t seem to put our finger on why exactly that’s the case. Is it demographics? No. Culture? Perhaps. Lack of basic party organisation in some areas? It’s certainly a factor. But whilst we’re flagellating ourselves over our inability to perform south of the Watford gap (outside of London), we should remember that the [...]

    Read more →
  • Comment Featured Why we love Woolwich

    Why we love Woolwich

    By Jon Wilson

    Woolwich is an amazing place. It’s where the Labour party was founded as a mass membership organization. The Woolwich Provident was one of Britain’s first building societies. The Royal Arsenal Coop one of our first cooperative societies. Woolwich had the second Polytechnic in the country, created with the aim of providing education for working adults. Woolwich is my nearest big town centre, where I shop and go to meet friends. In the last few days, for many people, its name [...]

    Read more →