strichener Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 6 minutes ago, Carnoustie Young Guvnor said: And the answer was over four decades earlier, months after we joined. Thus illustrating my point perfectly. Tory 1997 manifesto. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Steele Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 47 minutes ago, Carnoustie Young Guvnor said: Really? So tell me when a review of our EU membership was mentioned in the manifesto of a major political party prior to 2015. Go..... Labour Party 1983 any good? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fullerene Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 4 minutes ago, strichener said: Tory 1997 manifesto. 4 minutes ago, The Skelpit Lug said: Labour Party 1983 any good? So obviously an election winning issue. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strichener Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 (edited) 3 minutes ago, Fullerene said: So it gets mentioned a lot by serious losers. It was one of the main issues during John Major's government. Eurosceptics were emboldened after with the government at the time only having a majority of 18 suffered a defeat on the second reading. Edited December 28, 2020 by strichener 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strichener Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Fullerene said: So obviously an election winning issue. Regardless of election outcomes, it is ludicrously stupid to claim that Europe only became a political issue in the last five years. Here is text from the Labour manifesto in 1997 Quote There are only three options for Britain in Europe. The first is to come out. The second is to stay in, but on the sidelines. The third is to stay in, but in a leading role. An increasing number of Conservatives, overtly or covertly, favour the first. But withdrawal would be disastrous for Britain. It would put millions of jobs at risk. It would dry up inward investment. It would destroy our clout in international trade negotiations. It would relegate Britain from the premier division of nations. Edited December 28, 2020 by strichener 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Steele Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 3 minutes ago, Fullerene said: So obviously an election winning issue. I'm only pointing out two examples to someone who didn't think the issue was in any manifesto prior to 2015. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneteaminglasgow Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 (edited) Maybe not about leaving the EU itself, but I’m pretty certain there was stuff all throughout the 2000’s about ratifying the Lisbon treaty and holding a referendum on that. I mean, I was 6 years old in 2000 so not sure on details but I seem to remember it being on the news. To say our relationship with the EU wasn’t a political issue before 2015 is wild. Edited December 28, 2020 by oneteaminglasgow 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fullerene Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 1 minute ago, The Skelpit Lug said: I'm only pointing out two examples to someone who didn't think the issue was in any manifesto prior to 2015. Fair enough. EU membership has been an issue amongst one or more of the political parties since time began. I also suspect that if you asked the general public, they would have an opinion too - even if only loosely. However, it is only since 2015 that it really reach fever pitch, with a large number of people being absolutely adamant about the issue one way or the other. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacksgranda Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 4 minutes ago, Fullerene said: Fair enough. EU membership has been an issue amongst one or more of the political parties since time began. I also suspect that if you asked the general public, they would have an opinion too - even if only loosely. However, it is only since 2015 that it really reach fever pitch, with a large number of people being absolutely adamant about the issue one way or the other. That's a different slant, and is probably right, but not what was originally asked. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 Polls prior to the referendum announcement had the EU right down the bottom of priorities of those polled. It was a manufactured issue by the Tory Party and UKIP. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnoustie Young Guvnor Posted December 28, 2020 Author Share Posted December 28, 2020 Just now, welshbairn said: Polls prior to the referendum announcement had the EU right down the bottom of priorities of those polled. It was a manufactured issue by the Tory Party and UKIP. And the right-wing press. This is what happened. We all live on the same planet, we all know this to be true. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Wilson Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 What about the issue of joining the euro, didn't that raise significant discussion about membership in general? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 1 minute ago, Sergeant Wilson said: What about the issue of joining the euro, didn't that raise significant discussion about membership in general? I don't remember that, just the usual talk like before decimalisation about it all being a con to put up prices. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon EF Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 Leaving the EU just isn't and never has been an "extremist" position. There are dozens of issues which historically have not generally been high on people's priorities and haven't always had popular support but come up at certain points and people take positions on them as they arise which nobody in their right mind would call extremist. Gay marriage being one. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SANTAN Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 Glad to see some posters here back up my point that the EU question was indeed a large political football and in the foresight of those who were switched on when they voted in 2014. -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Wilson Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 (edited) 7 minutes ago, welshbairn said: I don't remember that, just the usual talk like before decimalisation about it all being a con to put up prices. I regret getting involved in one of Pep's brain farts already. I've been aware of UK/GB/England having issues about Europe since I was in History and Modern Studies classes. Edited December 28, 2020 by Sergeant Wilson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneteaminglasgow Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 16 minutes ago, welshbairn said: Polls prior to the referendum announcement had the EU right down the bottom of priorities of those polled. It was a manufactured issue by the Tory Party and UKIP. I would hazard a guess that “immigration” would be right at the top though. And that’s what the Leave vote is really about for a lot of people. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacksgranda Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 This has been rumbling away to a degree since the 1960s 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 https://qz.com/1725402/only-5-percent-of-brits-cared-about-the-eu-before-brexit/ 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacksgranda Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 1 minute ago, welshbairn said: https://qz.com/1725402/only-5-percent-of-brits-cared-about-the-eu-before-brexit/ Probably because prior to 2016 those who opposed/questioned/were ambivalent to EU membership had nowhere to express their concerns, as all the major parties were in favour of retaining our membership (albeit with dissenters within their ranks). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.