12-applying-these-principles

L. Enhancing Other Jurisdictions a. European Union 1. UK Relationships with the European Union Although there are differences in detail, the Jury Team Principles can also be applied to the institutions and organisation of the European Union and of local Government. The relation of the UK to EU (formerly EEC) has been a central feature of UK politics for fifty years but its various enhancements have generally not received particularly strong parliamentary support: - The Bill to join the EEC passed its Third Reading in the House of Commons in July 1972 by only 301 to 284 (16 Conservatives voted against and four abstained and there were 13 Labour abstentions). - For the Single European Act 1986 there was a Government three-line Whip and a ‘guillotine’. - At Second Reading on the Maastricht Treaty, the European Communities (Amendment) Bill, in May 1992, 22 Conservative MPs defied the Whip and voted against. - For the Treaty of Amsterdam in late 1997 there was an Opposition three-line whip and only one MP, Edward Heath, defied the party whip by abstaining. - For the vote on the Treaty of Nice in 2004 there was an Opposition and a Government three-line whip and the Government won with a large majority even though 100 Labour MPs did not even attend. 2. Referendums on the EU The parties have taken varying positions on having a referendum on Europe. Enoch Powell and Neil Marten put down an amendment calling for a referendum on ...