revolutionary_jam
15-04-2008, 09:09 PM
Dear Tom Harris,
I sincerely hope you will be voting "no" on the new European Union
treaty which is 99% the same as the former constitution document we
were promised a referendum on before it was rejected.
The new treaty will essentiall hand law making powers that were
formerly the preserve of parliament over to Europe and I am very
concerned about the undemocratic nature of this transfer. Please show
some integrity vote "no" on this issue or else you place the power,
which in a democracy should belong to the people, in the hands of
others.
Yours sincerely,
Antony Sammeroff
Dear Mr Sammeroff
Many thanks for contacting me with regard to your concerns on the
European Reform Treaty - I am very sorry for the delay in responding to
your email. I voted against a referendum on the Reform Treaty and wanted
to write to let you know why, as I am aware that you felt that the
Reform Treaty is nothing more than the previous Constitution in
disguise.
The European Reform Treaty modernises existing EU structures, offers
greater continuity and efficiency, enables a more effective European
voice in foreign affairs, gives more power to national parliaments, cuts
bureaucracy and speeds up decision making.
The Reform Treaty is not the same as the EU Constitution - it is
measurably different in legal structure, content and consequence. The UK
will not lose or have to vacate its seat on the UN Security Council -
there is simply no threat to our position on the UNSC. There will not be
a new President of Europe - the current council presidency tenure of 6
months will be replaced with a two and a half year term and will be
chosen by the elected leaders of the respective nations. There will not
be an EU Foreign Minister, British Embassies will not be replaced by an
EU diplomatic service, we will not lose control of our borders and will
not be forced to join the Euro.
This Treaty does not set in motion the creation of a European
Super-state and will not erode our national identity, it simply furthers
and modernises the European legal personality, which has existed since
the 1950's and has only helped to successfully conclude hundreds of
international and multinational agreements on issues such as trade and
the provision of development assistance and aid. The Reform Treaty
provides a much more fluid mechanism for integrated and cooperative
agreement and strategy without compromising on any of the many and
varied individual characteristics of the 27 nations within the EU.
I was elected on a manifesto promise to hold a referendum on the
ratification of a European Constitution. If the constitution were before
parliament, I and the government would have supported a referendum.
However, the Reform Treaty represents not a Constitution but a
consolidation of existing Treaties and I do not therefore feel I have
reneged upon that promise or compromised my integrity. I voted against
putting the Reform Treaty to a referendum as I believe that the
institution of Parliament is vested with the responsibility to act on
behalf of and in the best interest of the constituents of its members.
A referendum in this instance was not required as we were not talking
about an issue of fundamental national change - I would for example have
no hesitation about supporting a referendum on joining the Euro as would
represent such a change. That is not to say that the Reform Treaty is
not significant which is why it was afforded such a considerable amount
of time in the House of Commons to allow members to debate all facets on
behalf of their constituents so as to ensure that no issue was left
unattended.
I would of course welcome your thoughts on my position.
Best wishes
TOM HARRIS MP
Member of Parliament for Glasgow South
wtf?
I sincerely hope you will be voting "no" on the new European Union
treaty which is 99% the same as the former constitution document we
were promised a referendum on before it was rejected.
The new treaty will essentiall hand law making powers that were
formerly the preserve of parliament over to Europe and I am very
concerned about the undemocratic nature of this transfer. Please show
some integrity vote "no" on this issue or else you place the power,
which in a democracy should belong to the people, in the hands of
others.
Yours sincerely,
Antony Sammeroff
Dear Mr Sammeroff
Many thanks for contacting me with regard to your concerns on the
European Reform Treaty - I am very sorry for the delay in responding to
your email. I voted against a referendum on the Reform Treaty and wanted
to write to let you know why, as I am aware that you felt that the
Reform Treaty is nothing more than the previous Constitution in
disguise.
The European Reform Treaty modernises existing EU structures, offers
greater continuity and efficiency, enables a more effective European
voice in foreign affairs, gives more power to national parliaments, cuts
bureaucracy and speeds up decision making.
The Reform Treaty is not the same as the EU Constitution - it is
measurably different in legal structure, content and consequence. The UK
will not lose or have to vacate its seat on the UN Security Council -
there is simply no threat to our position on the UNSC. There will not be
a new President of Europe - the current council presidency tenure of 6
months will be replaced with a two and a half year term and will be
chosen by the elected leaders of the respective nations. There will not
be an EU Foreign Minister, British Embassies will not be replaced by an
EU diplomatic service, we will not lose control of our borders and will
not be forced to join the Euro.
This Treaty does not set in motion the creation of a European
Super-state and will not erode our national identity, it simply furthers
and modernises the European legal personality, which has existed since
the 1950's and has only helped to successfully conclude hundreds of
international and multinational agreements on issues such as trade and
the provision of development assistance and aid. The Reform Treaty
provides a much more fluid mechanism for integrated and cooperative
agreement and strategy without compromising on any of the many and
varied individual characteristics of the 27 nations within the EU.
I was elected on a manifesto promise to hold a referendum on the
ratification of a European Constitution. If the constitution were before
parliament, I and the government would have supported a referendum.
However, the Reform Treaty represents not a Constitution but a
consolidation of existing Treaties and I do not therefore feel I have
reneged upon that promise or compromised my integrity. I voted against
putting the Reform Treaty to a referendum as I believe that the
institution of Parliament is vested with the responsibility to act on
behalf of and in the best interest of the constituents of its members.
A referendum in this instance was not required as we were not talking
about an issue of fundamental national change - I would for example have
no hesitation about supporting a referendum on joining the Euro as would
represent such a change. That is not to say that the Reform Treaty is
not significant which is why it was afforded such a considerable amount
of time in the House of Commons to allow members to debate all facets on
behalf of their constituents so as to ensure that no issue was left
unattended.
I would of course welcome your thoughts on my position.
Best wishes
TOM HARRIS MP
Member of Parliament for Glasgow South
wtf?