Agenda item

European Union Membership

It was moved by Councillor John Booker, seconded by Councillor Keith Davis, that this Council:-

(a)       believes that UKIP's position has been quite unfairly and misleadingly labelled 'anti-Europe', but that the Party is not 'anti-Europe', although it is firmly opposed to political integration within Europe;

(b)       regrets that, back in 1972, British citizens were told we were joining a 'common market', but that what we actually joined was a supranational political union where, we believe, we have lost our rights of self-government in the stealth creation of a united states of Europe, which has its own flag, national anthem, parliament, central bank, court of justice, a vast civil service, and fledgling military and police forces;

(c)        notes that the tentacles of the European Union stretch into almost every area of our national life, for example, the EU has significant influence over British financial services, fishing, energy and trade; it seeks to dictate UK business and employment legislation and immigration rules; and it seeks greater control over our law enforcement services, our foreign affairs and tax policy;

(d)       further notes that there is a significant momentum behind plans for a EU-wide army and police force, and that the EU 'shares' responsibility with Britain for many other policy areas, including animal welfare, consumer protection, public health, space programmes, social policy, humanitarian aid and vocational training, to mention but a few;

(e)       further regrets that on these and many other issues, our elected Westminster politicians are effectively impotent; and believes they pretend to have the power to influence these matters, but actually they have none, and it is what this Council believes to be an out-of-sight, unaccountable, pan-European bureaucratic elite which has the final say and they do not consider Britain's best interest; and

(f)        expresses the wish for Great Britain to be a free and fair, independent, sovereign democracy, to leave the EU and re-join the world, and believes that Britain has nothing to lose and everything to gain by this action.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Jack Scott, seconded by Councillor Nikki Bond, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the addition of the following words:-

(a)        believes that Britain should remain a member of the European Union (EU);

(b)        notes that the EU accounts for nearly half the UK’s exports and believes Britain’s membership of the EU is vital for the future success of this country’s economy;

(c)         further notes the economic benefits membership of the EU has brought to Sheffield, including provision of funding through the European Regional Development Fund;

(d)        believes that Britain’s membership of the EU also helps to tackle issues that transcend national borders, such as climate change, terrorism, tax havens and the current refugee crisis;

(e)        fears the Prime Minister’s renegotiation with other EU leaders will result in a poorer deal for British workers; and

(f)         calls on the Prime Minister to use his renegotiation to pursue a social Europe, including the strengthening of employment rights and an end to the exploitation of migrant workers.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

It was then moved by Councillor Joe Otten, seconded by Councillor Andrew Sangar, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the addition of the following words:-

(a)        believes that Britain stands taller in the world when we stand tall among our neighbours by playing a leading role in the European Union (EU), as we did with the development of the Single Market;

(b)        notes that as the European Union has developed, the powers of nation states have only been pooled where the nation states themselves identified a strong national interest in doing so, and that unanimous agreement of the governments of member states is, and will remain, the basis for any powers exercised by EU institutions;

(c)         welcomes the Single Market and the free movement of labour for making a positive contribution to the prosperity of, and opportunities available to, the British people;

(d)        further welcomes EU action in fighting crime, and protecting consumers, workers and the environment, and investment in infrastructure and science and technology, recognising that in all these areas we can achieve more working together than we can alone;

(e)        acknowledges that there is no need for, and there are no plans for, an EU army, and recognises the benefits of NATO membership and of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the cost and capability benefits of bilateral co-operation with France on defence procurement and operations;

(f)         acknowledges that the EU is not perfect, but in order to change, reform and improve the institution, we must remain an active member;

(g)        regrets the failure of the UK parliament to use all the powers available to it for the scrutiny of EU legislation, and the poor attendance record of UKIP MEPs when matters affecting British interests are being debated; and

(h)        fears that Britain leaving the EU would lead to the break-up of the UK, as Scotland and Northern Ireland will vote to stay in, and the marginalisation of "little England" in a world dominated by large trading blocs, and calls instead for greater unity in the free world; supporting the EU as a beacon of peace, freedom, democracy, human rights and prosperity in a world contested by warring and oppressive forces.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

(Note: The above amendment was carried in addition to the earlier amendment (moved by Councillor Jack Scott, seconded by Councillor Nikki Bond). Accordingly, paragraphs (a) to (h) of the above were renumbered as additional paragraphs (g) to (n) in the Substantive Motion.)

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Aodan Marken, seconded by Councillor Rob Murphy, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the addition of the following words:-

(a)        welcomes the fact that there will be an opportunity for the people of the UK to democratically settle the question of the UK’s continued membership of the European Union (EU), via a referendum;

(b)        does not believe it is reasonable to lay the blame for all the UK's ills on the EU, but does believe that it has been decisions by successive UK governments that have left this country with, for example: a lax tax policy system that allows multinational corporations to pay a smaller percentage of income than most British citizens; marketization in the NHS; and a tripling of tuition fees;

(c)         believes that membership of the EU is on balance positive for the UK, including by making possible cross-border regulation to protect people's health, the environment, and consumers, and hopes that UK citizens will decide to remain within the EU;

(d)        notes the benefits that EU membership brings to the city of Sheffield, including by providing funding for projects like the Community Network Programme, Grey to Green Phase 1 and the Remediation of Don Valley Stadium, through the European Regional Development Fund;

(e)        celebrates all EU students that make, and have made, Sheffield their home for the duration of their study, and the contribution that they make to the city's economic and cultural vibrancy;

(f)         believes that, despite these benefits, the EU in its current form is an undemocratic and unaccountable institution, and that if it is to survive the EU must be significantly reformed so that it becomes more democratic, more transparent, and better at supporting the needs of all citizens of Europe; and

(g)        will work to enfranchise as many Sheffield residents as possible before the EU referendum to ensure that they can vote on this crucial issue, and will aim to significantly improve on the low turnout of 35.82% during the EU Parliament elections in May 2014.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived.

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-