Post by Teddy Bear on Oct 23, 2011 22:09:13 GMT
Parliament finally debates In/Out referendum, BBC sees only 'Tory splits'
By Daniel Hannan
It's hard to imagine a larger question in British politics than whether we should be in the EU. Depending on how you measure it, between 50 and 84 per cent of our laws come from Brussels. The curtailment of our democracy was at first seen as the price for being part of a prosperous and growing market; but it now seems clear that the EU is sinking, dragging us with it like so many chained galley-slaves.
Even those – and they are many – who believe we are better off as we are now must surely recognise the magnitude of the issue. Whichever side you're on, the case for letting the people decide is overwhelming (see here).
So it's colossal news that, in response to popular pressure, the House of Commons will divide on whether to give the country an In/Out referendum. The vote will take place a week on Thursday: 27 October. Having had a referendum on the method by which we elect MPs, here's our chance to get one on whether those MPs run the country.
How will the palaeo-reporters of the MSM cover the story? I have a sinking feeling that it will be framed in the paltriest and most irrelevant way as 'EU causes headache for Conservatives'. The BBC, in particular, has been trying to run such a story since the general election. To see quite how determined its editors are, have a look at the clip below. You get the general idea from how the presenter introduces the subject, but her insistence on pushing the same line throughout the interview is truly awe-inspiring.
By Daniel Hannan
It's hard to imagine a larger question in British politics than whether we should be in the EU. Depending on how you measure it, between 50 and 84 per cent of our laws come from Brussels. The curtailment of our democracy was at first seen as the price for being part of a prosperous and growing market; but it now seems clear that the EU is sinking, dragging us with it like so many chained galley-slaves.
Even those – and they are many – who believe we are better off as we are now must surely recognise the magnitude of the issue. Whichever side you're on, the case for letting the people decide is overwhelming (see here).
So it's colossal news that, in response to popular pressure, the House of Commons will divide on whether to give the country an In/Out referendum. The vote will take place a week on Thursday: 27 October. Having had a referendum on the method by which we elect MPs, here's our chance to get one on whether those MPs run the country.
How will the palaeo-reporters of the MSM cover the story? I have a sinking feeling that it will be framed in the paltriest and most irrelevant way as 'EU causes headache for Conservatives'. The BBC, in particular, has been trying to run such a story since the general election. To see quite how determined its editors are, have a look at the clip below. You get the general idea from how the presenter introduces the subject, but her insistence on pushing the same line throughout the interview is truly awe-inspiring.