I think Pundita gets this wrong. Blair isn’t flip-flopping. From the article
Asked on Monday whether he would call a referendum even if France had voted against the charter, Blair said: “You can’t have a vote on nothing.”
It’s not like he’s going have Parliament approve the referendum without the people. It’s that if France says no, it’s dead.
mark:
April 22nd, 2005 at 3:18 am
Well, no good reason for Blair to stick his neck out once it dies – and I hope it does – regardless of what he’s said. All he has to do is mumble something about ” going back to the drawing board” and then move on to some other topic.
Blair’s personal popularity isn’t what it used to be so he can’t really afford to add extra bulls-eyes to his chest just to make a point.
Dan tdaxp:
April 22nd, 2005 at 2:15 am
I think Pundita gets this wrong. Blair isn’t flip-flopping. From the article
Asked on Monday whether he would call a referendum even if France had voted against the charter, Blair said: “You can’t have a vote on nothing.”
It’s not like he’s going have Parliament approve the referendum without the people. It’s that if France says no, it’s dead.
mark:
April 22nd, 2005 at 3:18 am
Well, no good reason for Blair to stick his neck out once it dies – and I hope it does – regardless of what he’s said. All he has to do is mumble something about ” going back to the drawing board” and then move on to some other topic.
Blair’s personal popularity isn’t what it used to be so he can’t really afford to add extra bulls-eyes to his chest just to make a point.