--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No treaty should be ratified without…" description: "\"No treaty should be ratified without consulting the British people in a referendum\" — David Cameron" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/david-cameron-1858_british_no-treaty-should-be-ratified-without-con_2521237.png" --- # No treaty should be ratified without consulting the… ![“No treaty should be ratified without consulting the British people in a referendum” quote by David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/david-cameron-1858_british_no-treaty-should-be-ratified-without-con_2521237.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/david-cameron-1858_british_no-treaty-should-be-ratified-without-con_2521237.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/david-cameron-1858_british_no-treaty-should-be-ratified-without-con_2521237.png) > “No treaty should be ratified without consulting the British people in a referendum” [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A treaty must have direct public approval via a referendum before ratification. **In simple terms:** Treaties need public vote before approval. Key Takeaway Seek public consent before ratifying treaties. Themes democracy politics public consent Mood cautious political Type policy statement When to use this quote - national treaties - EU agreements - constitutional reforms Key Concepts referendum legitimacy sovereignty Questions to Reflect On - How can informed public debate be ensured? - What safeguards protect against populist pressure? A Different Perspective Public opinion may be swayed by misinformation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [British people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british-people/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Referendum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/referendum/) [Referendums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/referendums/) [Treaty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treaty/) ## Related quotes > [How can a governing party propose to its people a referendum that won't be binding? Is that a serious political programme? No it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/how-can-a-governing-party-propose-to-its-people-a-referendum-that-won/) [Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/) > [The Government have made it clear that the constitutional treaty will be ratified in the UK only after a referendum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-hoon/the-government-have-made-it-clear-that-the-constitutional-treaty-will/) [Geoff Hoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-hoon/) > [Agreements. Specifically, a treaty ratified by all the orders of whimsical like forms who dwell here that affords a measure of security for mortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/agreements-specifically-a-treaty-ratified-by-all-the-orders-of/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [First, we would not accept a treaty that would not have been ratified, nor a treaty that I thought made sense for the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/first-we-would-not-accept-a-treaty-that-would-not-have-been-ratified/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Some MPs, some very senior civil servants and others, are basically conspiring - and I use the word deliberately - in order to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-francois/some-mps-some-very-senior-civil-servants-and-others-are-basically/) [Mark Francois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-francois/) > [“remedy. The issue of Europe, he suggested, should be taken out of the hands of governments and parties, and put directly to the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-pimlott/remedy-the-issue-of-europe-he-suggested-should-be-taken-out-of-the/) Ben Pimlott > [Any reform of that fundamental nature, potentially constitutional, it has to go to the people. It has to be a be a referendum, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rona-ambrose/any-reform-of-that-fundamental-nature-potentially-constitutional-it/) [Rona Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rona-ambrose/) > [Fundamental questions are being asked about the future of the Eurozone and therefore the shape of the EU itself. Opportunities to advance our national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/fundamental-questions-are-being-asked-about-the-future-of-the/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [No, a euro referendum will not be part of a government programme if we get the chance to form one,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helle-thorning-schmidt/no-a-euro-referendum-will-not-be-part-of-a-government-programme-if-we/) [Helle Thorning-Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helle-thorning-schmidt/) > [If there are further steps to European integration, the people should have their say at a general election or in a referendum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/if-there-are-further-steps-to-european-integration-the-people-should/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [After Brexit referendum, our country faces major challenges. Risks to the economy and living standards are growing. The public is split.The government is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-streeting/after-brexit-referendum-our-country-faces-major-challenges-risks-to/) [Wes Streeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-streeting/) > [The outcome of the referendum does not affect those of my officials who have British nationality, since they work for Europe and not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/the-outcome-of-the-referendum-does-not-affect-those-of-my-officials/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [Boycotting the referendum is a possible option ... because we believe that participating in the voting might be a useless act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saleh-al-mutlaq/boycotting-the-referendum-is-a-possible-option-because-we-believe/) [Saleh al-Mutlaq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saleh-al-mutlaq/) > [The Government have consistently made it clear that the mechanism in the United Kingdom whereby the European draft constitutional treaty could be implemented is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-alexander/the-government-have-consistently-made-it-clear-that-the-mechanism-in/) [Douglas Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-alexander/) > [The 1860 election became a referendum on the southern way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-catton/the-1860-election-became-a-referendum-on-the-southern-way-of-life/) [Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-catton/) ## More by David Cameron > [Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/humanitarian-goods-and-people-must-flow-in-both-directions-gaza/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I think it true that, you know, sometimes things start to change even before a government changes and, actually, I think you can begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-think-it-true-that-you-know-sometimes-things-start-to-change-even/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Normally when people say they haven't decided, they're being polite but they're definitely not voting for you. I think it's different this time. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/normally-when-people-say-they-haven-t-decided-they-re-being-polite/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [There is not, in my view, a single European demos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/there-is-not-in-my-view-a-single-european-demos/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us. Society is stronger when we make vows to each other and we support each other. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/conservatives-believe-in-the-ties-that-bind-us-society-is-stronger/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [The murders in Paris are sickening, we stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/the-murders-in-paris-are-sickening-we-stand-with-the-french-people-in/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I have a very clear view, which is that if you disagree with the policies of Israel, fine, say so, but that is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-have-a-very-clear-view-which-is-that-if-you-disagree-with-the/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [As far as I am concerned this referendum should settle the matter. I believe it will one way or another be decisive. Britain will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/as-far-as-i-am-concerned-this-referendum-should-settle-the-matter-i/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [We will reflect the country we aspire to govern, and the sound of modern Britain's is a complex harmony, not a male voice choir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/we-will-reflect-the-country-we-aspire-to-govern-and-the-sound-of/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I've said I'll stand for a full second term, but I think after that it will be time for new leadership. Terms are like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-ve-said-i-ll-stand-for-a-full-second-term-but-i-think-after-that-it/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Simply asking the British people to carry on accepting a European settlement over which they have had little choice is a path to ensuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/simply-asking-the-british-people-to-carry-on-accepting-a-european/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [All those countries who keep their aid promises should be proud of what they've done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/all-those-countries-who-keep-their-aid-promises-should-be-proud-of/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Easter is all about remembering the importance of change, responsibility, and doing the right thing for the good of our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/easter-is-all-about-remembering-the-importance-of-change/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I like democracy. I like to be able to throw out my political leaders when they get things wrong, and we don't get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-like-democracy-i-like-to-be-able-to-throw-out-my-political-leaders/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [The EU must be able to act with the speed and flexibility of a network, not the cumbersome rigidity of a bloc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/the-eu-must-be-able-to-act-with-the-speed-and-flexibility-of-a/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) [Explore all 203 David Cameron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) ## More British quotes > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. The old Soviet Union turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/while-we-like-to-think-queueing-is-unique-to-british-culture-the/) [Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) [Browse all 3,149 British quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No treaty should be ratified without consulting the British people in a referendum", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Cameron" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/no-treaty-should-be-ratified-without-consulting-the-british-people-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "British" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/no-treaty-should-be-ratified-without-consulting-the-british-people-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/david-cameron-1858_british_no-treaty-should-be-ratified-without-con_2521237.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/david-cameron-1858_british_no-treaty-should-be-ratified-without-con_2521237.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/david-cameron-1858_british_no-treaty-should-be-ratified-without-con_2521237.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No treaty should be ratified without consulting the British people in a referendum” — David Cameron", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Cameron", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No treaty should be ratified without...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/no-treaty-should-be-ratified-without-consulting-the-british-people-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/no-treaty-should-be-ratified-without-consulting-the-british-people-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```