Letter to The First Post

Cameron must take charge of EU debate (Link)

If David Cameron really wants an early general election, then he should promise to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty irrespective of what happens in other EU member states.

At present the Tory pledge is that we would have a referendum, but only if the treaty had not come into force.

Therefore while there is still the slightest chance that the Irish might vote "yes" in a second referendum, Labour must remain in office to block the Tories and save the treaty. That could mean hanging on until the bitter end - Thursday May 6th 2010.

Cameron could "cut the Gordian knot" simply by announcing that even if the Irish did reverse their decision, he would still allow the British to have their say.

Not only would that take the pressure off the Irish people and government, a friendly act, it would also relieve Labour of the burden of holding the fort for the EU - thereby freeing them to replace the disastrous Brown with a new leader, who could then go to the country and seek his own mandate.

Yours faithfully,

Dr R D Cooper

FIRST POSTED JULY 30, 2008