The market research which was presented to the Second Congress
in July made it clear that most people do not want Britain to join the
single currency but are likely to acquiesce in our entry because they
are unclear as to what the alternative is. They also wanted more
information to enable them to make up their minds.
With this in mind, the theme of the Third Congress
was to explain the advantages for Britain of keeping an
independent pound.
Summary of the
proceedings of the Third Congress for Democracy
Guest speakers were::
Ruth
Lea , Head of Policy of the Institute of Directors, introduced a paper
detailing the advantages of Britain keeping the pound. The
Congress resolved that:
The UK should resist any moves to
increase the federal budget, especially as the European pensions time
bomb could lead to the British taxpayer paying the bill for Europeans'
pensions.
Senator Gordon Smith, Chairman of the US Senate's European Affairs Committee,
spoke on Britain's relationship and trade with the United States and refuted the
suggestion that Washington would prefer to deal and trade with a European
superstate.
Pia Kjaersgaard MP
, Leader of the Danish People's Party spoke on the ways in
which Denmark benefits from remaining outside the single currency.
Doug Nicholls, General Secretary of the Community & Youth Workers' Union
and Secretary
of Trade Unions Against the Single
Currency,
presented
The Euro: Bad for Trade Unions, which
outlines the advantages for employees of Britain keeping an independent
pound. The Congress resolved that:
A single European currency would mean
a single interest rate structure, leaving wage cuts and unemployment
as the only contra-inflationary economic tools available to
government.
Inward investment into this country
would not be jeopardised by keeping the pound but could easily be
threatened if we joined the euro.
SPEAKERS FROM THE FLOOR INCLUDED:
Dr Mifsud
Bonnici, Maltese Labour Party - former Prime Minister of Malta
FAIR REFERENDUMS
Those who attended the Second Congress were clear that the anti-euro
campaign could win the forthcoming referendum on the single currency, provided
this was fairly conducted.
However, experience had shown that where the government of the day lays down the rules,
the government of the day wins the referendum. The Congress therefore established a
sub-committee, comprising eminent constitutional lawyers, which has since met and
submitted recommendations to the government in response to its White Paper on referendums.
The committee's chairman, the distinguished writer and analyst Frederick Forsyth, reported to the Congress on the committee's recommendations and its plans for the
future. The Congress resolved that:
The
role of the Government of the day in any referendum must not distort
the outcome of the debate between the two opposing sides. The
Government and any European institutions should be restricted from
publishing material relating to the referendum issue for a far greater
period than the 28 days envisaged in the Home Secretary's White Paper.
A
strengthened, independent Electoral Commission should oversee all
matters relating to the conduct, funding, framing of the question,
spending, voting thresholds and broadcasting during the referendum
process. Its task would be to ensure that future referendums are
fair and seen to be fair and balanced to both sides of the argument.
The Congress was jointly chaired by Sir Michael Spicer MP and Austin
Mitchell MP.
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