Even EU supporters like me want a referendum

13 April 2012

The latest row over Europe, following the Brussels summit, shows how deeply the issue continues to divide British politics. Today's division is over whether pan-EU institutions should be used to enforce fiscal discipline to save the euro. The underlying division, however, is not over the detail of such deals: it is over whether we should hold a referendum on our EU membership.

I have always been a passionate supporter of Britain's membership of the EU. As Europe Minister in 2001 I had a ringside seat during negotiations for the enlargement of the union which saw the entry of many European countries into the mainstream. It is precisely because I believe in our membership that I support a referendum on it and why I support the People's Pledge, the national campaign for such a referendum.

The EU is a force for good. The UK continues to enjoy huge benefits of membership: economic, social and political. Such advantages greatly outweigh any bureaucratic restraints we face.

The trade benefits of EU membership are clear. It has given us access to a single market of 500 million people turning over 10 trillion. Membership means increased levels of competition and of innovation, lower prices and a greater choice for consumers. Businesses and customers benefit. The cost of setting up a business has fallen dramatically and the time taken to do so has halved.

Some say we could extract ourselves from Europe and continuing trading with it. They would like to benefit from the single market and believe that it would be cost-free. But Norway, not part of the EU, pays half a billion euros to trade with Europe, receives no rebate and implements almost all EU regulations. It also bears the costs of negotiating treaties outside the EU rather than be represented inside it.

In an age when the emerging economies of India, China and Brazil are racing ahead we need a partnership with the rest of Europe to make our influence count. Apart, we are marginalised on the international stage. Together, we form a important global power bloc.

Whatever one's view of Europe, the entity that people in Britain voted to join has changed dramatically since 1975. We joined a fledgling economic trading association. That association now has political and legal dimensions which affect our daily lives.

Moreover, as was seen in the European Council debate held in the Commons last week, the level to which our membership is scrutinised in Parliament is laughable. Backbench MPs had less than five minutes each to contribute. The minister for Europe was not even present.

A referendum in the next parliament would determine the view of the British people, in light of the progress of the past 36 years. It would give them a chance to have their say on the EU we are part of today.

I believe that, as in 1975, the people of this country would engage in balanced debate and vote to remain part of the EU. Any future Government would then have a mandate to act in the interests of Britain in Europe without constantly looking over its shoulder or being accused of selling out to Brussels. The question would finally have been answered in a clear, decisive and unequivocal way.

Bring it on!

Keith Vaz MP is a former Europe Minister

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