Liberal Democrat Councillors call for a referendum on the Constitutional Treaty
A group of 34 Liberal Democrat Councillors today release an open letter calling for a referendum on the revived Constitutional Treaty.
While Sir Menzies Campbell has called for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU, he suggested that the Liberal Democrats might back out of their promise to hold a referendum on the Constitutional Treaty.
Mike Hancock MP, who organised the letter, said: “This letter reflects much wider feeling in the party. Many people in the grass roots of the party think we should be putting pressure on the Government to keep its promise and hold a referendum on the Constitutional Treaty.”
The Councillors’ letter says:
“In 2003 the Liberal Democrats called for a referendum on the EU’s Constitutional Treaty, with the unanimous support of the parliamentary party. At the last election all three main parties called for a vote on the text.
EU leaders are now set to agree a new treaty, which is essentially the same in substance as the original Constitution.
However, the Government is now attempting to back out of its manifesto promise to give voters a say. We believe that the Liberal Democrats should support a referendum on the treaty, and put pressure on the Government not to break its promise.”
It is signed by:
Cllr Martin Alan Curry, London Borough of Bromley
Cllr Mark Bailey, Bristol City Council
Cllr David M Berry, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
Cllr Mike Buckley, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
Cllr Derrick Burt, Mole Valley District Council
Cllr David Close, Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Cllr Robin Combe, North Norfolk District Council
Cllr Mike Cox, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, London Borough of Hillingdon
Cllr Irene Curr, Redcar and Cleveland Borough
Cllr Les Davies, Powys County Council
Cllr Eric Empson, Redcar & Cleveland Council
Cllr Nan Farmer, Carlisle City Council
Cllr Kay Gilder, Wokingham District Council
Cllr Bryan Hall, West Sussex County Council
Cllr Rob Hannaford, Exeter City Council
Cllr Barbara Jackson, Birmingham City Council
Cllr Roger Jones, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Caradon District Council
Cllr Peter Mates, Penwith District Council
Cllr Peter Maughan, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council
Cllr Stuart Monkcom, Liverpool City Council
Cllr David Norris, Fareham Borough Council
Cllr W Owen Jones, Oswestry Borough Council
Cllr Robin Parker, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Stevenage Borough Council
Cllr Peter Roake, South Somerset District Council
Cllr Freda Salway, Cardiff County Council
Cllr Carol Shaw, London Borough of Brent
Cllr Mick Shone, Chichester District Council
Cllr David Stephen Butler, St Jude Ward, Southsea
Cllr Katrina Trott, Mayor and Councilor, Fareham East
Cllr Bill White, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council
Cllr Margaret Wilson, Redcar & Cleveland Council
Cllr Brian J. Woodcraft, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, London Borough of Greenwich
Cllr Keith Woodhams, West Berkshire Council
Cllr Desmond Worthington, Vale Royal Borough Council
Notes for Editors
For more information please call Neil O’Brien on 0207 197 2333 or 07973 142775