Who's backing a referendum?

The overwhelming majority of people in Britain back a referendum. The majority among every age group, in every area of the country, and among the voters of all political parties support a vote. There is support for a referendum right across the political spectrum.

Who supports a referendum?

The Trade Union Congress
The Conservative Party
Labour MPs
Liberal Democrat MPs
The SNP
Plaid Cymru
The Green Party
...and eight out of ten voters

The Trades Union Congress

In September 2007 the Trades Union Congress voted overwhelmingly in favour of a referendum. Unions representing more than five million members backed a referendum.

GMB General Secretary Paul Kenny said: “the proposed Treaty clearly falls within the promises made by the Government to the electorate at the last election and to refuse to honour this by means of ducking and diving may cost the Labour Party at election time.”

Colin Moses, National Chair of the Prison Officers' Association, said: “We have had a bellyful of broken promises and what we have here is another broken promise… If democracy is to mean anything and the promises are to mean anything, they should not be made in the heat of an election but they should be kept and they should be kept right through, and the Government should be brave enough to go to the people of this country and ask them.”

88 percent of trade union members back a referendum (ICM, June 2007)

The Conservative Party

The Conservative party is backing a referendum.

Almost all Conservative MPs are planning to vote for a referendum on the revived constitutional treaty.

Labour MPs

While Gordon Brown is trying to back out of his promise of a referendum, many Labour MPs disagree, and believe that they should keep their manifesto commitment.

The number of Labour MPs in favour of a referendum is expected to grow as the bill to ratify the revived Constitution passes through the commons. Labour MPs who have already voted for or expressed support for a referendum include:

Diane Abbott,
Ronnie Campbell,
Michael Clapham,
Frank Cook,
Jeremy Corbyn,
Jon Cruddas,
Ann Cryer,
John Cummings,
Ian Davidson,
David Drew,
Gwyneth Dunwoody,
Frank Field,
Mark Fisher,
Ian Gibson,
Roger Godsiff,
Patrick Hall,
Kate Hoey,
Kelvin Hopkins,
Lindsay Hoyle,
Lynne Jones,
John McDonnell,
Austin Mitchell,
Denis Murphy,
Alan Simpson,
David Taylor,
Robert Wareing

(source: Referendumlist.com)

The 2005 Labour manifesto said: “The new Constitutional Treaty ensures the new Europe can work effectively… We will put it to the British people in a referendum.”

During the run up to the election Gordon Brown said: "It's not as though this is being imposed on the country. People will have the chance to put their views." (26 January 2005)

According to opinion polls, 83% of Labour voters want a referendum (ICM June 2007)

Liberal Democrat MPs

Some Liberal Democrat MPs are openly backing a referendum, and others privately support keeping the promise made by the Liberal Democrats at the last election.

Nick Harvey MP has said: "The similarities between the Reform Treaty and the proposed EU constitution clearly outweigh the differences. Yes I do personally support a referendum." (Letter to a constituent)

Mike Hancock has said: "I'm still demanding a referendum and so are my constituents, who are increasingly angry at being conned by Gordon Brown and Labour.” (Telegraph, 14 December 2007)

Other Liberal Democrat MPs who have spoken publically in favour of a referendum include:

Colin Breed,
Tim Farron,
John Hemming
Richard Younger-Ross

(source: Referendumlist.com)

At the last election the Liberal Democrat Manifesto said: “We are therefore clear in our support for the Constitution, which we believe is in Britain’s interest – but ratification must be subject to a referendum of the British people.”

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg previously backed a referendum, but is no longer supporting it. Back in 2003 he argued: “The real reason, of course, why the government does not want to hold a referendum is the fear that it may lose… nothing will do more damage to the pro-European movement than giving room to the suspicion that we have something to hide, that we do not have the ‘cojones’ to carry our argument to the people.”

According to an ICM poll, 88 percent of Lib Dem voters back a referendum (June 2007)

The SNP

In December 2007 the Scottish Parliament voted to back a referendum.

Linda Fabiani MSP, the Europe, External Affairs and Culture Minister has said: “The SNP, like the Labour Party have previously supported a referendum on Europe. The SNP have today proved their trust in the people of this country. We will stand by our commitments. While Gordon Brown continues to show his distrust of the voting public, we will support a referendum. We are honour bound.”

Gordon Archer, SNP Holyrood candidate for East Renfrewshire – where a referendum is taking place, said, "It is vitally important that the people of East Renfrewshire and Scotland get a vote on this crucial issue. We are delighted to support the I Want a Referendum campaign." (PA, 5 February 2008)

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson says: “"The SNP supports a referendum and I urge people to take part in this poll. Gordon Brown and Jim Murphy have broken their word and want to deny the people their say." (PA, 5 February 2008)

91 percent of SNP voters back a referendum in Scotland, according to an ICM poll in October 2007.

Plaid Cymru

Plaid MPs Hywel Williams, Adam Price and Elfyn Llwydall backed a commons motion which said:

“That this House declines to give a second reading to the European Union (Amendment) Bill as no provision for a referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon is made within it, despite the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Scottish National and Plaid Cymru parties all having promised to make provision for a referendum on such a treaty in their manifestos and policy statements in 2005.”

The Green Party

In England and Wales and in also in Scotland the Green Party is pro-referendum,.

Caroline Lucas MEP said: "It's clear that the proposed EU reform treaty is substantially the same document as the EU constitution, on which Tony Blair promised the British people a referendum. But, now, Gordon Brown wants to deny us a say on whether to adopt it or not and that's fundamentally undemocratic, whatever you think about the rights or wrongs of the treaty." (Morning Star, 18 September 2007)

Patrick Harvie MSP said: "Greens are pro-European, but pro-democracy too. For far too long the people of European countries have felt excluded from decision making, dragged along by unresponsive leaders. There is a clear need to build pressure on the UK Labour Government to honour their commitment to consult the electorate.” (19 December 2007)

...And eight out of ten voters support a referendum.

Just as important as the positions of the politicians – the overwhelming majority of people want a referendum, all across Europe.

In Britain 86 percent of voters want a referendum (ICM June 2007). Almost no voters believe the Government’s claim that the Lisbon Treaty is different to the Constitutional Treaty. According to a poll by YouGov in October 2007, only 94% do not believe the Government’s claim that it is different.

According to a poll by TNS Sofres, 75% of the population of the whole EU want a referendum. There is a majority in favour of a referendum in every single one of the 27 member states.

Even people who support the treaty think that there needs to be a referendum.

Writing in the Financial Times, Philip Stephens has pointed out: "The government did promise a referendum on the now defunct constitutional treaty; and, rhetoric and legal form aside, the Lisbon document is substantially the same as that rejected by the electorates of France and the Netherlands. British voters want the same opportunity." (January 14)

In the Guardian Jackie Ashley argued: “So the idea is that in the teeth of public hostility, and on the back of a threadbare, widely ridiculed argument, he should ram this through Westminster? Not only would that be wrong in principle, it would severely damage Brown's hard-won reputation for straight dealing and give the Tories the opening they've been searching for. Come on, Gordon. Losing a referendum would be a political embarrassment. Refusing one would be a political disaster.” (10 September 2007)