Another broken Labour promise

In 1997 Labour promised a referendum before Britain joined the Euro, it was a way of kicking the EU question off of the agenda and so maximising the Labour vote. Last night the Conservative peer, Lord Blackwell, tabled an amendment to prevent any "backsliding" on the Labour government's euro vote commitment. However Labour peers queued up to vote against the motion and it was defeated by 195 votes to 135.

Lord Strathclyde said:

"This astonishing vote will arouse deep suspicion in the minds of the public in view of the broken promises from Labour and Liberals over a referendum on the Constitutional Treaty...It would be the easiest thing in the world for the government to have backed us in writing this commitment into law. After all, they claim it is their policy. There is something very fishy indeed about their refusal to do so."

Labour seem to be looking to cover their backs in various policy areas now that they have lost the support of the electorate. I predict many "tough decisions" will now be taken on the basis of a majority in the House of Commons rather than the popular will of the country.