For over a year now, I have been campaigning for a referendum on ratification of the EU Constitution, or the Lisbon Treaty. I am grateful for the huge amount of local support I have received for this campaign from people who feel as I do, that the British people were cheated out of a say on our future within the EU.On March 5th 2008 the majority of Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs voted against a Conservative proposal for a UK-wide referendum on ratification of the EU Treaty. The Conservatives are the only Party committed to a referendum.
The new EU Treaty is essentially the same as the EU Constitution. There will still be a new EU President, an EU Foreign Minister (renamed but with exactly the same powers) with his own diplomatic service, more than fifty vetoes given away, new powers for the EU over criminal justice and a ratchet clause that will allow surviving vetoes to be abolished without the need for a new Treaty.
In 2008 I thought our battle was lost when Gordon Brown signed the EU Treaty. Thankfully Ireland rejected it. They must not be bullied into having another vote.
David Cameron has promised that if we form the next Government and the Treaty is not ratified than the British people will get a referendum.
Please be assured that I will continue to campaign to ensure that the views of the people of the St Ives Constituency are heard.
(pictured above: European Parliamentary Candidates Julie Girling & Don Collier, Garfield Gilbert and myself in St. Buryan)
