Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern have an article in The Irish Times (HERE) calling for a second referendum or a confirmatory vote, mainly on the grounds of preserving the Belfast Agreement which is of course, vital to maintaining peace in Ireland. However, they don't mention what I think is one of the strongest reasons for a second vote, something which other commentators don't seem to talk about either. This is that the original 1975 referendum was in essence also confirmatory.
The Heath government had taken us in and negotiated the terms of entry. MPs had debated and passed resolutions plus an Act of Parliament in favour of it (albeit on some readings, quite narrowly). We officially entered the European Economic Community on 1st January 1973. What we had left a short time before the 1975 referendum and what we had joined were plain for everybody to see. There were arguments about what the membership terms might mean in practice for the UK in the future - but not about the precise terms themselves, they had already been set out in detail.
Hence, unlike the 2016 referendum, the debate before the June 1975 vote was at least about something of substance instead of unicorns and hot air. In 2016 as we know, we voted to leave with no idea about our final destination. Going back to 1972 was no longer an option.
In my own mind therefore, a second vote would be equivalent to the one in 1975 where we confirmed we wanted to stay under the terms negotiated or leave and continue as we had been doing just two years before.
The 1970 Conservative party manifesto made an explicit pledge to negotiate membership of the European Economic Community. You can read the whole thing HERE but the relevant section is this (manifestos were shorter and much less explicit in those days):
"If we can negotiate the right terms, we believe that it would be in the long-term interest of the British people for Britain to join the European Economic Community, and that it would make a major contribution to both the prosperity and the security of our country. The opportunities are immense. Economic growth and a higher standard of living would result from having a larger market.
"But we must also recognise the obstacles. There would be short-term disadvantages in Britain going into the European Economic Community which must be weighed against the long-term benefits. Obviously there is a price we would not be prepared to pay. Only when we negotiate will it be possible to determine whether the balance is a fair one, and in the interests of Britain.
"Our sole commitment is to negotiate; no more, no less. As the negotiations proceed we will report regularly through Parliament to the country".
The 1970 election was held on 18th June (HERE) and the Conservatives won a surprise victory with a majority of 31 seats. But negotiations for our entry were already underway. They had been initiated by the Labour government of Harold Wilson and it's notable that the 1970 Labour manifesto (HERE) was more or less the same as the Tories. Here is the relevant part:
"We have applied for membership of the European Economic Community and negotiations are due to start in a few weeks' time. These will be pressed with determination with the purpose of joining an enlarged community provided that British and essential Commonwealth interests can be safeguarded.
"This year, unlike 1961-1963, Britain will be negotiating from a position of economic strength. Britain's strength means that we shall be able to meet the challenges and realise the opportunities of joining an enlarged Community. But it means, too, that if satisfactory terms cannot be secured in the negotiations Britain will be able to stand on her own 'feet outside the Community".
So, to be clear in 1970 BOTH major parties were in favour of joining the community - and this has been true ever since, even up to the present day.
MPs first debated whether we should become a member of the EEC in late 1971 and voted by 356-244, a majority of 112 in October, just fifteen months after the Conservative party came to power. Edward Heath signed the negotiated treaty on 22nd January 1972 and we officially acceded to the community on 1st January 1973.
Compare this to our present quagmire, where after nearly three years we haven't even done the easy bit and are at an impasse still with no clear idea where we're headed - this with the benefit of the internet, jet travel, the Channel Tunnel and every other means of improved communication. If you needed proof how badly we are served by the current crop of politicians you only have to think about what was done in a few months in the early 1970s.
A very small group of fanatical Eurosceptics in and out of parliament have succeeded in putting the people and parliament dangerously at odds with each other.
This is why a second vote is vital. Let's hope the Labour party don't let us down.
