The people may not get a referendum but at least they get to listen to a decent debate

Everyone seems quite complimentary over the debate this morning on Today between David Milliband and William Hague.


The big parliamentary event today is of course the vote on whether they should be a referendum over the European constitution

Alan Cochrane says

In a refreshing change from what has become the depressing 'norm' Miliband and Hague actually appeared TOGETHER in the studio to be grilled by Naughtie on tonight's vote on whether there should be a referendum on the new EU treaty.

The vote could be tight tonight,Nick Clegg has ordered his MP'S to abstain after yesterday's humiliation and some Labour backbenchers may well vote with the opposition.

Guido is predicting that up to three Lib Dems could quit,

Heath, Kramer and Farron are the most likely to resign.

There is an interesting article in this morning's Times by Mary Ann Sieghart in which she claims that two out of three parties are being damaged by the continuing debate

This reneging on a manifesto commitment, though, which will fuel public mistrust just as powerfully, affects only two parties out of the three. For David Cameron's Conservatives are still supporting the promised referendum. No wonder the Tory leader basked in a little Obama fairy-dust at the weekend by borrowing the American candidate's “broken politics” line and applying it to Westminster.

Another prespective by Bob Piper who has the advantage of age

I've mentioned this before and it really annoys the likes of the tory boy bloggers who whinge that they were only spotty kids at the time of Maastricht, and mentioning it now is irrelevant. Now that is convenient for dizzy... but it doesn't get all these senior Tories who now demand a referendum off the hook. William Hague was also a spotty youth, but he was a spotty youth who voted for Maastricht and against a referendum. Ditto John Redwood (well, not the bit about youth). David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary was even a whip in the Major Government who corralled, bullied and badgered Tories through the Maastricht lobbies. The 24 Tory Maastricht rebels were vilified and spat upon by their own colleagues for going through the No lobby

.



But back to the interview on today and James Hoskin though thinks it once again portrays the BBC bias on the programme towards the Tories

The to-and-fro discussion went as expected - Hague arguing well for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, and Miliband arguing (quite) well against it. However, when James Naughtie pressed Miliband on whether the Government are opposing a popular vote on the referendum because it's one they'd lose, the Foreign Secretary dropped in this (quoting as accurately as scrambing around for a pen and paper will allow):
"James, I'm sorry you've given William Hague a points victory in the last minutes of this interview."