Mass Tory rebellion erupts as MPs FINALLY stand up for the people, well, some of them
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...l-EU-vote.html
'This isn't a #@!#X*!# sixth form debate: Chief Whip accused of 'bully boy' bid to kill off EU vote
http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/ju...-441421959.jpg
Three headed monster: Cameron, Miliband and Clegg have installed three-line party whips to deny the British people a say on our membership of the European Union. However, around 60+ Conservative MPs and some Labour MPs are going to rebel and serve the people before party.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Daily Mail
Allegations of ‘bully-boy’ tactics were made against Tory Chief Whip Patrick McLoughlin yesterday as the Government fought to kill off a Commons bid to win a referendum on the EU. Amid reports that up to 100 rebel Conservative MPs may defy the Prime Minister, there were claims that some had been subjected to a number of threats by Mr McLoughlin to make them toe the line. According to one MP, ex-miner Mr McLoughlin was overheard shouting at a rebel MP: ‘This is not the f****** Oxford Union. This is not some f****** sixth-form debating society. This is the bloody House of Commons.’
Other threats allegedly included:
- Banning MPs having extra time off at Christmas.
- Giving their seat to a rival MP.
- A four-year veto on becoming a Minister.
The alleged threats were revealed as David Cameron faced his most serious Commons revolt since winning the Election. He is expected to win tomorrow’s Commons vote on whether to let the public decide on staying in the EU. But he may pay a heavy price. Tory MPs say that ‘heavy-handed’ tactics used by the Government to avoid a defeat have backfired. They claim Mr Cameron could have given them a free vote instead of imposing a severe three-line whip because the result is not binding.
According to one MP, Tory Whips threatened to cancel extra time off at Christmas for MPs who have booked holidays before the Commons breaks up on December 20. One backbencher said MPs whose seats are to be scrapped in a shake-up of Parliamentary boundaries have been told that they will get no Government support to find a new one if they vote for a referendum. Several would-be rebel Tories were summoned to see Mr McLoughlin in his Commons’ office last week. Others were called for meetings with Mr Cameron. One Tory said: ‘The Whips are hitting the phones over the weekend but the real arm-twisting comes tomorrow. They are using the classic tactic of picking off the weaker waverers or the ones angling to be bought off with some promise of a future job.’
Stewart Jackson, Parliamentary Private Secretary to Eurosceptic Ulster Secretary Owen Paterson, last night reaffirmed that he will put his principles above his career and vote for a referendum. Mr Jackson, who is ready to resign over the issue, said: ‘Keeping faith with your constituents and keeping their trust is more important than party preferment and jobs in government.’
Another PPS, who asked not to be named, hit out at ‘school prefect bully-boy tactics’ used by Whips.
Labour leader Ed Miliband faced growing troubles with his own backbenchers, when Derbyshire MP Natascha Engel said she would vote for a referendum. Last night Mr McLoughlin denied swearing at a rebel MP, adding: ‘I am not making threats to anyone.’
I was most impressed on the news tonight of Kate Hoey (Labour MP) and David Davis (Conservative MP) putting what the people who elect them want before what the party they belong to wants, even if it means throwing a potential career in senior government down the drain. This is what politics is supposed to be about, principles and standing up for what the people want - something that the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats (the majority) ignore.
Miliband and Cameron have installed three-line whips against a vote and the Liberal Democrats are against the referendum also, despite having pledged during the last election to support an in/out referendum. Interestingly enough, at the time Liberal Democrat supporters on here asked why I wasn't supporting the Liberal Democrats rather than UKIP as they were a bigger party and promised the same - I correctly said they would never give us a say, I stand correct.
The issue of the EU will never go away, it will only grow stronger - 'ever closer union' is the stated aim and it will continue to occur, its satisfying to know however that at least a small proportion of MPs in both Labour and Conservative still have some backbone.
Thoughts, should MPs give us a say on our membership of the EU?
MPs vote against holding a referendum on membership of the EU.
MPs have voted against holding a referendum on EU membership, 483 votes to 111.
More than 70 of the rebels were Conservative, ignoring David Cameron's pleas to vote against this motion.
Thoughts?
Edited by Catzsy (Forum Super Moderator): Thread merged as same topic already posted
