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Labour would be 'silly' to offer EU referendum, says Ed Balls Ed Balls rebuffs call for manifesto promise on EU referendum
(1 day later)
It would be "silly" for Labour to offer voters an in/out referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union, Ed Balls said, accusing the head of the country's biggest trade union of supporting a Tory policy that would be bad for jobs. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls last night said he disagreed with Unite's call for a referendum promise in the Labour manifesto, accusing the head of the country's biggest trade union of supporting a Tory policy that would be bad for jobs.
The shadow chancellor dismissed a warning from Unite general secretary Len McCluskey that the party risked being "boxed in" at the 2015 general election unless it dropped its opposition to matching David Cameron's promise to allow voters a say.The shadow chancellor dismissed a warning from Unite general secretary Len McCluskey that the party risked being "boxed in" at the 2015 general election unless it dropped its opposition to matching David Cameron's promise to allow voters a say.
Delegates at the conference of Labour's biggest union affiliate approved a statement from Unite's executive urging Labour to "urgently reconsider" its approach to a referendum, and making it clear that the union would argue for a vote for Britain to stay in the EU.Delegates at the conference of Labour's biggest union affiliate approved a statement from Unite's executive urging Labour to "urgently reconsider" its approach to a referendum, and making it clear that the union would argue for a vote for Britain to stay in the EU.
Asked if Labour would consider going into the election promising a vote, Mr Balls told BBC2's Newsnight: "That would be a silly thing for us to say. Asked on BBC2's Newsnight whether there was "no question that an incoming Labour government would ever offer an in/out referendum on Europe", Mr Balls replied: "That would be a silly thing for us to say."
"We made a very clear commitment: if there is any proposal in the next parliament for a transfer of powers to Brussels we will have an in/out referendum."We made a very clear commitment: if there is any proposal in the next parliament for a transfer of powers to Brussels we will have an in/out referendum.
"We are not proposing a referendum now because we think to spend two or three years blighting investment and undermining our economy on the prospect of a referendum which David Cameron says he is going to have after he gets an unknown package of reforms would be bad for jobs and investment."We are not proposing a referendum now because we think to spend two or three years blighting investment and undermining our economy on the prospect of a referendum which David Cameron says he is going to have after he gets an unknown package of reforms would be bad for jobs and investment.
"If Len McCluskey is supporting the David Cameron position, I disagree with Len McCluskey.""If Len McCluskey is supporting the David Cameron position, I disagree with Len McCluskey."
Cameron has pledged to renegotiate the terms of Britain's membership if the Tories win a majority next year, and hold a referendum in 2017.Cameron has pledged to renegotiate the terms of Britain's membership if the Tories win a majority next year, and hold a referendum in 2017.
McCluskey told the conference that "ducking this question is seen as part of Labour's commitment to business".McCluskey told the conference that "ducking this question is seen as part of Labour's commitment to business".
"That is a vast hostage to fortune. I would not like to be Ed Miliband explaining why he is not joining other parties in offering the British people a vote on something that is clearly a growing source of public concern."That is a vast hostage to fortune. I would not like to be Ed Miliband explaining why he is not joining other parties in offering the British people a vote on something that is clearly a growing source of public concern.
"It is time that Labour's leadership took a new look at the referendum question. We do not seek a referendum to take Britain out of the EU, we seek a referendum rethink in order to help Labour into power."It is time that Labour's leadership took a new look at the referendum question. We do not seek a referendum to take Britain out of the EU, we seek a referendum rethink in order to help Labour into power.
"Without such a pledge, our party will stand exposed, Ukip will be strengthened in some key constituencies and the Tories will hypocritically charge Labour with being anti-democratic. In a tight election, this can make the difference.""Without such a pledge, our party will stand exposed, Ukip will be strengthened in some key constituencies and the Tories will hypocritically charge Labour with being anti-democratic. In a tight election, this can make the difference."
McCluskey said denying a referendum would suggest that Labour was part of a "political elite" that did not trust the electorate.McCluskey said denying a referendum would suggest that Labour was part of a "political elite" that did not trust the electorate.
• This article was amended on 3 July 2014 to clarify remarks made by Ed Balls, both in the text and the headline. The earlier version stated that Balls had said it "would be 'silly' for Labour to offer voters an in/out referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union".