New Times,
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3 November 2009

Words that return to haunt Cameron

Proof of the folly of pleasing the Sun

By James Macintyre

If ever proof was needed of how misguided it is to conduct British politics as a campaign to please the Murdoch-owned Sun newspaper, it came this afternoon, when the president of the Czech Republic, Václav Klaus, signed the Lisbon Treaty.

Here was David Cameron in the Sun in 2007:

If you really want to signal you’re a break from the past, Prime Minister, do the right thing — give the people the referendum you promised.

Today, I will give this cast-iron guarantee: If I become PM a Conservative government will hold a referendum on any EU treaty that emerges from these negotiations.

And, best of all:

Small wonder that so many people don’t believe a word politicians ever say if they break their promises so casually.

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Now, it will be interesting to see both how Cameron talks his way out of this one, and to see just how the Sun reports it.

 

 

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