Social Chapter, but what else? |

Wednesday 4th November 2009 | 15:26

Social Chapter, but what else?

Besides the Social Chapter, there is support on the Right for renegotiating our relationship with the EU on a wide range of areas

After the Lisbon treaty was signed yesterday by Czech president Vaclav Klaus, senior Conservatives ruled out a referendum on the treaty itself – but indicated that there would be an effort to negotiate the return of some powers from Brussels back to the UK.

PoliticsHome surveyed the expert Phi100 panel - which includes MPs and peers from all the main parties as well as leading strategists, media commentators and think tank directors – which policy areas it would be worth focusing on in order to renegotiate the balance of power.

Top of the list were social and employment laws: fifty per cent of panellists felt that this was an area worth attention.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, right-leaning panellists were considerably more optimistic about which policy areas were worth focusing on. Large majorities of Conservatives thought that alongside social and employment laws, asylum and immigration and criminal justice were the best areas to focus on.

Majorities of Conservatives also thought that human rights, business regulation, and foreign policy could be fruitful areas of re-negotiation.

Liberal Democrat and non-aligned panellists were less optimistic about which areas were woth focusing on, and left-leaning panellists even more so.

Should there be a referendum on EU engagement?

Although a referendum on the treaty itself has been ruled out, some Conservatives (such as David Davis) have called for a referendum on whether the UK’s terms of engagement with the EU should be renegotiated.

Conservatives on the panel favour a referendum by a margin of fifty one to forty one.

But in general there is a strong view within Westminster that the Tories should not promise this kind of referendum.

Heavy majorities of left-leaning, Liberal Democrat and non-aligned panellists thought it was a bad idea.

'The health of our democracy'

A left-leaning strategist said: ‘You can't renegotiate if no one else wants to unless you are ready to pull out.’

A right-leaning panellist believed: ‘The manifesto mandate option is good enough.’

A non-aligned panellist, however, believed that ‘the health of our democracy demands it’

Leave a comment...

John Watkin Bakewell

17:38 |
04 Nov 2009
Recommended
2

Many Conservatives will now vote UKIP with the unfortunate chance of Labour getting back in next year.

Cameron will have to do something fast.

Barbara

22:00 |
04 Nov 2009
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2

Now we have been denied a referendum, we should be offered one on 'remaining in the EU' politicians do not have the right to decide our destiny we should do that oursleves. We've had enough of being told what's good for us let us decide that. Most would vote for our coming out and politicians should respect that and that we have the right to decide. They have consistantly been stealing off us, lied to us and stopped real democracy in this country in the last 12 years, Cameron today continued that stance, we must therefore vote for a new party one that will give us what we want, the three main parites have only themselves to blame for their arrogance they have displayed in ignoring the public. We will have our way when the election comes and they will see the anger and our wrath.

Johnny Norfolk

08:38 |
05 Nov 2009
Recommended
3

We have been sold down the river. It cannot be sustained in the long term without the support of the people. When people see how it will change their lives for the worst. The other people in Europe have been used to far less freedom than us. Just try living and working there (Not government paid) as I have in both France and Germany. They will change our lives to theirs not the other way round.

We will leave in the end i am sure of that.

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