Press releases
05/03/08
Clegg admits Government has "reneged on its commitment to a referendum."
So
why won't he keep his?
I
Want a Referendum today responded after Nick Clegg admitted that the Labour
Party has "reneged on its commitment to a referendum."
On
Newsnight the Liberal Democrat leader said: "Am I supposed to be
surprised that the Labour Party, has reneged on its commitment to a referendum
and doesn't want to have any referendum of any sort?"
He
said that the party would abstain "if the only referendum question we can
debate is on the Lisbon Treaty". However, Liberal Democrat MPs will also
have the option to vote for the Davidson amendment which would allow a second
question on membership of the EU, as well as a vote on the Treaty.
Neil O'Brien from I Want a Referendum said:
"This
is a crucial admission. If Nick Clegg admits that Brown has reneged on his
promise, why on earth won't he keep his?"
"At
the last General Election the Liberal Democrats promised exactly the same thing
as Labour - a referendum on the Constitutional Treaty. If Gordon
Brown has reneged on his promise then it follows that so has Nick
Clegg."
"The
best leaders show flexibility. We hope that Nick Clegg will now do the
honourable thing and allow his MPs to vote for the Davidson amendment, which
would allow people to have a say on both the Treaty and the question of 's
membership."
Background
At
the last General Election the Liberal Democrat manifesto said: "We are
therefore clear in our support for the Constitution, which we believe is in 's
interest - but ratification must be subject to a referendum of the British
people."
Similarly,
at the last General Election the Labour Manifesto said: "It is a good
treaty for
and the New Europe. We will put it to the British people in a
referendum".
Last
night several Liberal Democrats walked out of a meeting with Nick Clegg.
Many in the party have signalled that they want to keep the promise of a
referendum on the Treaty:
Sandra Gidley -
(Health)
"After much thought and consideration I have not been
persuaded that the overall effect of the treaty is sufficiently different to
the EU Constitution which was proposed prior to the last election. I am mindful
of the promise I made at the last election which was to support a referendum on
the Constitution. I will not use semantics to wriggle out of a promise so,
unless something unforseen happens, I intend to support the call for a
referendum."
http://www.referendumlist.com/news
Martin Horwood -
(Environment)
"As you may also be aware from the media, there is another
amendment supported by the Conservatives to introduce a referendum just on the
treaty itself, rather than on membership of the European Union. As I understand
it, this would only apply before ratification so if it fails during the passage
of the bill through Parliament and the treaty is ratified, it would leave you
without a vote. I am nevertheless inclined to support this referendum amendment
too, in the spirit of our manifesto promise for a vote on the ratification of
the earlier Constitution."
http://www.referendumlist.com/news
Alistair Carmichael - (
Defied the whip and abstained at the second reading. Has said
that "I don't think it is any secret that this is a live debate within the
party, there is a view to be taken on whether the treaty we are being asked to
consider is the same as the constitution which was the subject of our manifesto
commitment and again it is no secret that there is a range of views within the
party on that." "I have been in discussions with my chief whip and
the party leader and those discussions remain just that. There is a whole range
of possibilities that might occur and we will just take it day by day."
http://www.epolitix.com/EN/News/200802/59c00c22-49b5-4a40-8e8d-585d6d51ed03.htm
John Pugh - (junior
Health)
Has come out
in favour of a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, according to the Southport
Visiter: "I think there is currently a danger of Europe seeming
to be run by a political elite, with the public across Europe feeling
disempowered and alienated," he said.
David Heath (Justice)
Told his party whips that he will listen to his constituents and
will vote for a referendum on the treaty, even if they threaten to sack
him from the front bench: "I intend to vote for it, as I promised,
and I have warned my whips I will do so.""
Nick Harvey (Defence)
Said in a letter to a constituent in January that "The
similarities between the Reform Treaty and the proposed EU Constitution clearly
outweigh the differences. Yes I do personally support a referendum."
Lembit Opik (Housing)
Has said that: "The question of a referendum on the Treaty
itself is a hard question. As you well know, others say that the Treaty is so
much like a Constitution that it warrants a referendum on its own."
Tim Farron (Countryside)
Told a constituent in a letter: "I do believe that the
government should be held to account for its failure to uphold the manifesto
pledge and I will vote for a referendum".
Colin Breed (Treasury spokesman)
Has said, "I would support a referendum on the proposed
European Treaty."
Richard Younger Ross (shadow DCMS) has also come out for a
referendum.
Backbench Lib Dem MPs Mike Hancock and John Hemming were among the
first to call for a referendum.
Seven more defied
the whip and abstained at the second reading: Annette Brooke,
Lorely Burt, Mark Oaten, Paul Rowen, Bob Russell, Sir Robert Smith, and John
Thurso.
Notes for Editors
1)
For more information please call Neil O'Brien on 0207 197 2333 or 07973 142775