WI: European Constitution passes but the UK votes it down

I have been wondering and looking into the possibility of a TL centred on the possibility of France's electorate voting "Yes" in 2004-2005 for the European Constitution as well as the Dutch not holding the referendum as the VVD doesn't support it, the POD, however I have not thought about it, but it'd probably be in the mid to late-1990s but my knowledge right now is quite limited in this issue.

But, my question is, if the different European Union member-states pass it either through their parliaments or through referendums (either consultative or not) what would happen once UK votes down in referendum the Constitution?

Also, Ireland voted down the Treaty of Lisbon the first time, afte which it had to be edited and sent again to Ireland to be voted again in referendum, so would Ireland have voted down the constitution?
 
I can't remember the polls but I think Ireland would have voted down if they voted before the UK but either way it doesn't matter. You are going to get Lisbon or something very close because the scale of the defeat is going to be such that a bit of re-wording isn't going to cut it. The big question will be whether Brown will risk passing Lisbon through Parliament without a referendum in the aftermath of a referendum on the Constitution. Who knows we might be living in a Lisbon less world. Wouldn't that be wonderful.
 
I can't remember the polls but I think Ireland would have voted down if they voted before the UK but either way it doesn't matter. You are going to get Lisbon or something very close because the scale of the defeat is going to be such that a bit of re-wording isn't going to cut it. The big question will be whether Brown will risk passing Lisbon through Parliament without a referendum in the aftermath of a referendum on the Constitution. Who knows we might be living in a Lisbon less world. Wouldn't that be wonderful.

Yes, I for one feel the crippling effects of the Lisbon Treaty every day, and notice a definite difference between life after it and life before it.
 
I can't remember the polls but I think Ireland would have voted down if they voted before the UK but either way it doesn't matter. You are going to get Lisbon or something very close because the scale of the defeat is going to be such that a bit of re-wording isn't going to cut it. The big question will be whether Brown will risk passing Lisbon through Parliament without a referendum in the aftermath of a referendum on the Constitution. Who knows we might be living in a Lisbon less world. Wouldn't that be wonderful.

Yes, I for one feel the crippling effects of the Lisbon Treaty every day, and notice a definite difference between life after it and life before it.

Don't turn this into EU thread #327,000,111 please.
 
I can't remember the polls but I think Ireland would have voted down if they voted before the UK but either way it doesn't matter. You are going to get Lisbon or something very close because the scale of the defeat is going to be such that a bit of re-wording isn't going to cut it. The big question will be whether Brown will risk passing Lisbon through Parliament without a referendum in the aftermath of a referendum on the Constitution. Who knows we might be living in a Lisbon less world. Wouldn't that be wonderful.

Well Ireland was close according to a 2005 poll in June 35% was against, 30% was for and the rest undecided, let's suppose that the domino effect ensures that it passes in Ireland. If only the UK votes it down in a referendum, then wouldnt the Constitution will become law while some sort of special deal (like Ireland with Lisbon) would go ahead, I mean I'm sure there must have been plans in the EU for the inconvenience of a predictable British "No" vote. An tbh if the UK votes "No" the continental attitude would be close to "meh, those British always doing the strange thing"

Btw, what would be the political consequences of not holding a referendum of the European Constitution? A much more unstable Labour government under Brown?
 
Well Ireland was close according to a 2005 poll in June 35% was against, 30% was for and the rest undecided, let's suppose that the domino effect ensures that it passes in Ireland. If only the UK votes it down in a referendum, then wouldnt the Constitution will become law while some sort of special deal (like Ireland with Lisbon) would go ahead, I mean I'm sure there must have been plans in the EU for the inconvenience of a predictable British "No" vote. An tbh if the UK votes "No" the continental attitude would be close to "meh, those British always doing the strange thing"

Btw, what would be the political consequences of not holding a referendum of the European Constitution? A much more unstable Labour government under Brown?

The Constitution explicitly required the approval of all EU countries not least because of it's impact on EU parliamentary representation and extension of the acquis communautaire. If there was an attempt to go "meh, lets ignore it" rather than the OTL solution of crafting a treaty that could go through parliaments then it would open up a legal minefield.
 
The Constitution explicitly required the approval of all EU countries not least because of it's impact on EU parliamentary representation and extension of the acquis communautaire. If there was an attempt to go "meh, lets ignore it" rather than the OTL solution of crafting a treaty that could go through parliaments then it would open up a legal minefield.

But the problem would be wit any edits that Europe has accepted them and why should they change it entirely because of the same people as always? That'll lead to some kind fo big fracture between Brussels and London, or I suppose so.
 
But the problem would be wit any edits that Europe has accepted them and why should they change it entirely because of the same people as always? That'll lead to some kind fo big fracture between Brussels and London, or I suppose so.

The entire purpose of the EU Constitution was to give the new expanded EU a firm legal grounding, rather than the hodgepodge of treaties, accession statues and inter-governmental agreements. That was the entire point. Pretending it's in force without having the fulfilling the legal requirement for unanimity makes is impossible. It's like the government introduced a bill into the Cortes Generales, it doesn't pass but the government declares it's the law.
 
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