The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Quote of the day

Tony Blair on Britain leaving the EU.

By New Statesman Published 09 August 2012 7:15

Tony Blair leaves his home in central London. Photograph: Getty Images.

Tony Blair leaves his home in central London earlier this year to give evidence to the Leveson inquiry. Photograph: Getty Images.

I am deeply worried that Britain could decide by referendum to leave the whole process.

Tony Blair warns that the UK's membership of the EU is at risk.

Special Offer: Get 12 issues of New Statesman magazine for just £12

Tags: Tony Blair Europe Quote of the Day

More from New Statesman

5 comments

Sat, 2012-08-11 08:49 — Stuart Eels (not verified)

As in the case of the last referendum in the 1970s, when politicians like Heath lied their teeth off to the British people, I'm proud that I voted to get out of the then EEC, which all the politicians knew would turn into a United Stateas of Europe AAMVN?

That referendum was in another century, that contained two world wars and massive voting blocs from the various parties, who sometimes knew their leaders were lying through their teeth but still blindly voted as they wanted. David Cameron and before him Brown and Blair now look astonished when people turn on them, that wasn't what their party elders told it would be like, how dare the great unwashed not believe us!
We live in a very different world now, lets get that referendum going!

Sat, 2012-08-11 05:54 — AAMVN (not verified)

I think the EU is doomed in it's present form.

Somebody will leave soon - Greece or perhaps Spain. Then when they don't suffer a complete disaster others will follow. I think the EU will eventually turn back into a looser group of countries at the centre of Europe - Germany, France and a few others as full members and a second tier of members a bit like Norway - paying in and getting out but not blindly subject to the rules.

When I lived in France there was a take some leave some attitude to EU regulations, so that it was easy to work in France and pay all the taxes and charges but nearly impossible to be fully legal and be able to access the benefits. Cunning that. Meanwhile London became the second largest French city on the planet!

Then we have the hideous European Arrest Warrant - so shamelessly abused by Sweden in the Assange case. We are asked to assume that Poland, Greece, Spain etc all have justice systems on a par with Britain? What happens if Turkey joins?

I dunno. I used to like the idea of Europe but in the end I'm not so sure.

A referendum would be a disaster though because the public would vote on purely xenophobic grounds.

A full debate and free vote in the house of commons would be a better option.

Sat, 2012-08-11 16:23 — Barrie J (not verified)

I am sorry but it would be impossible to have any faith in a vote taken in the House of Commons.
Might I humbly suggest you watch the BBC Parliament channel and despair at the quality of debate and the absence of M.P.s
I don't know a single person, friend, family or acquaintance in three constituencies who has any confidence in their Member of Parliament; they are mostly perceived as liars and thieves.
Since the 'Expenses' scandal they have done nothing to change that perception.

Thu, 2012-08-09 10:52 — p borlenghi (not verified)

The EU has become too large and unwieldy to accommodate the idiosyncrasies of countries like Britain and we no longer deserve to be a member. David Cameron has made this perfectly clear and 'little islanders' like him will always behave like 'little islanders'. Recent events have shown that Germany is the most powerful country in the EU so it is not united at all. Perhaps it should just go back to being a union of six countries and then the Euro might be saved.