Should there be a UK referendum on our EU membership? If so, when?

The answers these days divide neatly:

  • Yes! Now!
  • Maybe. But if we do, let’s choose the right moment and the right question!

That latter view of course enrages anyone inclined to the former view as a piece of deliberate obfuscation.

Here is my latest Telegraph Blogs piece on these issues. Note that the sub-editors added a title which does not reflect what I in fact said! One reason no doubt for much of the abusive comment from DT Blog readers.

Thus me:

We don’t get a referendum when things are calm, as that rocks the boat? Plus we don’t get one when things are stormy, as that’s the time for health and safety first? Hmm – you seem to be saying that when the time is ripe we definitely get a referendum in theory, but never in practice…

It nonetheless looks as if a convulsive reappraisal of what the European Union looks like and represents is coming our way, whether it suits us or not. This is because any likely solutions to the eurozone crisis (enforced centralisation to make it work, or some sort of managed reduction in the countries in it, or both) will require radical EU treaty change and a hard look at underlying principles…

… the key thing to watch for when such an opportunity appears – as surely it must as the eurozone’s contradictions accumulate – is the real basis on which we seek to negotiate.

The only decisive question that matters is “Who Decides?” Any eventual referendum process that is not about that, or breezily glosses over that question, will be a trap.

I might have added that the even deeper question is: Who Decides Who Decides? But that might have been a bit too profound for such readers as DT Blogs appear to have.

Such as Disgustme:

Well suck on this folks:-

The USA is NOT in the EU
Canada is not in the EU
Brazil is not in the EU
India is not in the EU
Australia is not in the EU
Malaysia is not in the EU
China is not in the EU
Africa is not in the EU….

Hey, why isn’t the EU ganging up on these countries/ regions to force them to do its bidding? Why are they surviving being outside the EU?

All we know is that the EU now has its begging bowl out to most of these countries – ‘please Sirs, give us money to give to our European state debtors so they can repay their debt to our banks who in turn will lend them more money to cover their existing debts to other banks.

Mr. Crawford, get lost!

And ironandy:

Now is the perfect time, you plonker

And alb_einstein:

Charles Crawford – hopelessly out of touch and head in the sand.

The vast majority of this once fine country knows exactly what it wants. The establishment elites have completely failed the people of this country – in fact they’ve conspired against the interests of the public

And hawkerhunter:

Mr Crawford…..this is absolute nonsense……what part of this whole sorry mess do you not understand. Your people…as in your fellow citizens… want our Country to leave the EU.
With or without a referendum we want out.
If your so called "banker/liblabcon/trendyleft/elite/bilderberg" class can’t deliver this, then Sir, we WILL find someone that can. It’s that simple….please understand

And JohnInCambridge:

If Britain is outside and uninhibited in its criticism of the stinking Brussels morass [whose best idea is German economic hegemony] does Crawford seriously think others will not join us? Other European Institutions than the EU [which will still contain us] will suddenly be much more important. Many other countries will get the courage to leave the EU if we make it clear that a viable European commonwealth does not need the suffocating control-freakery of Brussels.

It is depressing that diplomats will do anything… any darned thing… to keep talk, talk, talking. Well words have almost extinguished Britain’s influence in Europe and the World. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been a major disaster for Britain since WWII

By now you get the picture. But let’s leave the last witty word to boudicca:

Can someone please give me one good reason why we should trust the opinion of Mr Crawford, ex of the FCO. As far as I’m concerned, he’s completely untrustworthy – just like the rest of the Establishment.

Funnily enough, that appears to be the view of much of the Establishment…