Hog-Tied
Socialist Press1975 1975-05-15Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 6 →
Read from the scan by machine and not corrected: expect misread words, and now and then a caption or a line from a neighbouring story. For anything you quote, read the scan.
Scan page 6
A short break at the beginof May for the Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher MP from addressing the permed savages of suburban Conservative ladies' associations on the virtues of British democracy and the benetits of the Common Market.
The leader of Her Majesty' loyal opposition was on a flying visit to the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, home not only of Emperor Roscoe but also of the European 'Parliament'. For the benefit of the assembled 'democrats' she repeated her opinion of the Common Market referendum -that its result could not be considered binding on MPs at Westminster.
Or to put it more plainly -if the result of the referendum is "No' ', the Tories reserve their right to line up with the right wing in the Cabinet and the 1n how a referendum works: on a 'vital matter' you invite the people' to speak directly (with the guidance, naturally, of the capitalist media and the Tory press). If the people say 'Yes' - three cheers for democracy! If, however, the should be so misguided as to say 'No' - that's altogether another question. Parliamentary 'sovereignty' and the tender consciences of MP's are then at risk. 'The people' can therefore ruddy well shut up, and leave the citizenry of Westminster to get on with business as usual.
Harold Wilson has SO far noticeably failed to declare that he will have nothin to do with the Tories plans t hog-tie the referendum.