We should not expect promises to be kept

According to information gathered, Section 2015-024 of the Lisbon Treaty states that if Article 50 is not triggered by March 31, 2017, we will lose the right to leave the EU unilaterally and to repeal the European Communities Act 1972.

At that point, Qualititive Voting kicks in and we will need 14 countries to agree exit.

If no agreement, we will be tied to the EU.

Yet it seems the people never had a say on the serious issue of the Lisbon Treaty giving away our rights as an independent sovereign state when, in 2007, Gordon Brown signed without the referendum promised in the Labour Party Manifesto.

In addition, it is claimed that many MPs subsequently signed having neither seen nor read the 3000-plus page document it only being lodged in the Commons Reading Room at 11.45 on the morning they were voting to ratify it.

Apparently, Gordon Brown was challenged in the Courts over his reneging on the election promise of a referendum with his barrister declaring “New Labour manifestos, promises and contracts are not subject to legitimate expectation” (Section 2013-020 – the value of party manifesto).

Ultimately, Brighton County Court is said to have dismissed the case on the grounds that the public ‘should not expect promises or contracts made in New Labour manifestos to be kept’.

Worryingly, Chapters 13 and 14 of the Lisbon Treaty are also said to state the treaty is self-amending, allowing the European Commission to alter its content without involving any elected politicians.

What price, therefore, openness, honesty and democracy for the masses at either EU or government.

Articles on the internet and in the media can often be contradictory and therefore, unreliable but it’s all most of us have to rely on for information and sadly, reality is often different to the written or spoken word.

Mary Steele

Deerlands Avenue, Parson Cross, Sheffield 5