The Irish voted a big fat "No" to the Lisbon Treaty, meaning that the Treaty was dead in the water. The legislation surrounding the treaty stated that it HAD to be ratified by all 27 member states. The Irish are the only Europeans to be given a referendum on this, thanks to it being written into their constitution. So you'd think that, thanks to the Irish vote, the Treaty would be finished.
Within hours members of the French and German governments were saying that they would be investigating ways to continue with the Treaty and come to some 'legal' accommodation with the Irish. In other words, they're going to continue with it anyway. And politicians wonder why nobody trusts them.
Yesterday's papers reported that Gordon Brown had already spoken to these members to confirm that the UK's ratification process would continue. Today's papers say that Gordon Brown is going to tell the EU that the Treaty cannot be ratified.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4138792.ece
I don't suppose there's any chance of us being given a referendum, as we were promised in the last election campaign? Thought not.
Following my rant about not being able to supplement your NHS cancer treatment with privately bought medicines (which aren't available on the NHS) imagine my surprise to read this in today's Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article4138315.ece
Yes, our government has once again made a knee-jerk response and then U-turned under the weight of public opinion. You'd think by now they'd learn to think a little.
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