"Manifesto pledges are not subject to legitimate expectation"

[Morris Onions]

Well, they're not promises that lead to legitimate expectations, at least.

I'm wondering whether this is going to be all over the newspapers tomorrow in the same way that it's all over the blogs this afternoon. The lovely Trixy (the qualifier has become part of her online handle, I think in recognition of her proving that UKIP does indeed contain totty) is at a case today where Gordon Brown is being sued for breach of contract. Over the manifesto promise to have a referendum on the EU Constitution Reform Treaty.

In the court case brought against him for breach of contract over a referendum on the EU Constitution, Brown's personal barrister has just told the court that "manifesto pledges are not subject to legitimate expectation".

Oh yes, Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, has just told an open court that we shouldn't expect him to be telling the truth with his promises, and that no manifesto pledge can be considered to be binding in anyway.

http://www.thebusiness.co.uk/trading-floor/491246/manifesto-promises-arent-promises.thtml

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. I'm amazed the case got as far as a court

Voting is not a contract; the whole thing is absurd. If governments don't fulfill their manifesto pledges, then it's up to the voters to vote them out next time.

What a waste of the court's time. It's crap like this that means I had a crook representing me for 2 years as an MEP while his case was delayed.