Yesterday we witnessed one of the most monumental betrayals in modern times. The Irish people bravely ignored the threats from their own government and Brussels and voted "NO" to the Lisbon Treaty. The Irish voted as they did, in the belief that the Lisbon Treaty would be scrapped if they rejected it. They were lied to. The heads of the 27 member states had absolutely no intention of honouring the democratic Irish vote. If I were Irish, I would be extremely angry today with my government, the EU, but most of all I would be feel betrayed by the British government. Our government under Brown's leadership has acted in the most underhanded and cowardly way to our neighbour and we all share in that shame. I'm embarrassed to call myself British today.
I would like to personally apologise to the Irish people for my country's treachery. I only hope that you will understand that this duplicity is not the doing of the people of Britain, but of its corrupt government. We were also promised a referendum in our government's manifesto - a promise which has since been denied us, because like you, we would have voted "No". I personally will do all I can to see that this betrayal will not be forgotten, and I will endeavour to see the Lisbon Treaty consigned to the rubbish heap to which it belongs. I, like many others across Europe celebrated the result of your referendum. You spoke for almost half a billion people in twenty six countries who were not allowed a voice. Brussels does not only refuse to listen to the people - they don't want to see us - and whenever they are able, they silence us.
Brown, Sarkozy, Barroso, Merkel and their fellow conspirators think they can force this EU super state on the people. They are wrong. The more they trample on democracy the weaker they will become. They will be voted out of power wherever people value their freedom. If we were to have a General Election in Britain today, Gordon Brown would be given one almighty boot out of Downing Street. The ratification of the Lisbon Treaty has now become a war between the political elite of Europe and the people. The people of Europe have fought tyranny and dictatorship before and we will do it again. The people will win. So stand fast Ireland, the political elite may be against you, but the people of Europe are with you.
5 comments:
Back in the late 1700s the arrogance of the British government, determined to do what it "knew to be best" for the colonists of North America, forced a political fracture and ultimately a war with individuals who until the final years of that political fracture still considered themselves Englishmen. Now this same government is conspiring with like-minded political despots in France and Germany to again attempt to dictate politics to free people.
Government....any government....derives its own legitimacy from the consent of the governed. Absent a majority vote in every country, including the people of that country under the Lisbon treaty is little more than conscription and slavery.
Apparently the British government learns slowly...if indeed it learns at all.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The Irish do not feel betrayed by the British Government, why should it? It is an separate country, what Britain decides to do with Lisbon is it's own business. The Irish would feel more betrayed about the millions of people who fled or starved to death during Britain's misrule of this island.
Anon @18:31,
I'm sure you are just on a wind up. When Ireland rejected the Lisbon Treaty, the British government should have called the Treaty dead.
Instead, along with the other leaders of Europe they are going to ignore Ireland's vote. We were told all 27 states must ratify the treaty for it to go ahead. That has been proved to be a lie. The Irish voted for nothing, thanks to Brown and his cronies.
i can assure you that the Irish are indeed VERY pissed off with Brown's underhand back stabbing.
utterly beneath contempt.
contrast , for example, with the way the Czech's greeted the result.
Prague has suddenly become the Irish people's favourite European city.
Hiya Steve
This is why I voted against the Lisbon treaty:
1 - Educated, intelligent people could not read or understand it.
2 - Lisbon is supposed to make the EU “more democratic”. Yet only Ireland with 1% of the EU population asked its citizens for their opinion – and only because our government was obliged to.
3 - Most Irish politicians and MEPs wanted a “Yes” vote like many of their EU colleagues - yet few had read or considered its implications by their own admission.
4 – The French and the Dutch voted against Nice. This is the same document with minor changes.
5 - Extremists advocating “No” told many lies which no sane person would believe. Yet they were the only ones discussing the issues. The Yes people said “trust us”. I don’t as supported by the post-result comments of many EU politicians saying that “Lisbon was not dead” despite what we were warned in advance about each country needing to ratify it.
6 - Lisbon advocates a common EU foreign policy. If we remember pre-Iraq March 2003, could there really have been one common EU Iraq policy for France, Germany and the UK? On the most serious issues of our time, the current EU structures seem adequate.
7 - Each country should have full-time commissioner(s) and yes, a simple mechanism should be found that facilitates speaking with one voice in for example, energy talks with Russia. But I don't want one non-elected (by the people) EU president to represent my country in a different manner to what operates now.
8 - I don't want an EU army despite the fact that war is unfortunately necessary at times. While this treaty does not compel a nation – for now - to accept one or contribute to a common defence fund, that's the direction it points and I strongly disagree.
9 - While we co-operate with EU countries, global trade dictates that we also compete with them. I need a 100% guaranteed clause in clear language that our corporation tax rate will not be changed now or ever unless requested by the Irish Government.
10 - Some aspects of the treaty will be clarified "at a future date". I can't vote for that.
11 - Legal experts who have studied Lisbon think (but are not sure) that we will never again have the opportunity to vote on major EU-related questions. Is this true? No-one can say for sure.
12 - The positive and very necessary issues in Lisbon like anti-crime cooperation etc need to happen fast. Why are the obviously great things mixed in with the contentious ones?
13 – Each country’s veto will be replaced with “qualified majority voting” on major issues which is likely to have serious unforeseen consequences for many EU nations. You’ve just seen the value of a veto.
EU politicians’ threats, arrogance and prior refusal to listen to two “no” votes, the credit crisis, immigration, abortion, workers rights, oil prices, inflation, loss of jobs, EU laws and local political issues in no way affected my vote.
I want closer political links and deeper integration with Europe. I did not want to vote “No” as I and most Irish people I know are extremely pro-European. We know it’s where our future lies.
What should Brussels do now? Correct the above, ask all EU citizens to vote on it (rather than getting 27 compliant governments to ratify it without reading it), don't ask us to accept on trust that a new Constitution – sorry, “Treaty” - we can’t understand is ok and yes, I'll vote in favour. Otherwise I’m happy with how things are now.
To those frustrated by our “No”, I respectfully suggest that if asked, your citizens might say the same.
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