Yup I'll answer the second part anyway; I only think it is worth having a referendum if there is some effort on the part of the government to inform the general public about the content. The European constitution is huge, and a minority will read it. However, many more will vote, and so I think that it is important to get people as informed as possible. Not a one sided information campaign I should add; that would be pointless.

I think that the British public are better informed than most politicians make out. When the politicians don't like the way the public thinks then they say they don't know the facts and so on. I think there is a basic understanding of what the constitution would entail. Whichever side wins or loses then the other will claim that the other side has brain washed the public.

It does seem as though funding will be fair though. Each side, not each party will be able to spend 5 million. However private individuals and groups can spend too up to 500K each. There is no limit so one side could be far more loaded than the other. Interestingly I bet the EU will spend their 500K for a yes vote. They have influenced the votes in this way before particularly in the new memebers votes on joining. Having said that the Yes vote will be arrayed pretty much against all the Newspapers (Guardian and possibly Mirror excepted) and some very wealthy individuals and groups on the No side.


Excalibur
Aviendha's Englishman