Appeals for a ref
Sir: Sir Malcolm Rifkind (A trap for Eurosceptic Tories', 27 October) declares that the Conservatives must not offer a referendum on the Constitutional Treaty if it has already been ratified before they come into office. He glosses over the fact that Mr Cameron has already done so and he should no more go back on his promise (made in the Sun newspaper) than Mr Brown should go back on his.
Sir Malcolm seems to believe Britain should stay in the European Union at any price. There are others — myself among them — who believe that there is a price which is too high to pay.
Sir Malcolm thinks those who would stay at any price should be free to say so, but those who take my view are silly and wrong and should shut up. But what is the point of opposing the Treaty if we have no intention of renegotiating it when we return to office?
Rt Hon. Lord Tebbit CH House of Lords, SW1 Sir: According to Sir Malcolm Rifkind, it would be 'silly and wrong' for David Cameron to promise a referendum, if the Tories win the next election, after this Parliament has endorsed the European Treaty. Sir Malcolm writes, 'If the Treaty is ratified by all 27 member states, it will come into force. That cannot be reversed by a subsequent referendum in Britain.' But our part in it certainly can be. Mr Cameron need only pledge that any government he leads would call such a referendum, accept the result and — if the vote were negative — then take the necessary steps in Parliament to enforce the popular will. Once Parliament had done its duty, either the Treaty would be re-negotiated or, perhaps more likely, there would be a genuine re-negotiation of our whole relationship with the EU Treaty states. This may not be to Sir Malcolm's taste, but it is nevertheless the case.
John Torode London W1
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