The TUC and EU

Today I managed to avoid watching the TUC on BBC Parliament as I decided to watch Dr Jacob Bronowski talk about classical medicine and wheat instead. But it is good to hear that the union delegates have voted in favour of a referendum on the EU treaty and in doing so have put a few more tons of pressure on the Scot to hold one.

Us Tories, UKIP (no surprise there), a few Socialists and Liberals MP are also backing a referendum, shame the TUC is also using the conference to back co-ordinated strikes.

From what I know, this vote was about the government’s resolution on a special ‘modus operandi’ in the charter of fundamental rights which would effect employment protection including the rights of the trade unions which has caused “very bad feeling” between them and Gordon Brown. Unless these terms changes, it appears that it would be very difficult for the unions to persuade workers to vote yes on the referendum.

I look forward for Parliament to reassemble so David Cameron can have his chance to lead to Commons campaign for a EU referendum as this appears to be a hot topic with the public, of course and it may tower over the next election.

Brown and Cameron debating this at the dispatch box should be interesting…