Yorkshire for a referendum
PUDSEY VOTERS DEMAND NATIONAL REFERENDUM ON REVIVED EU CONSTITUTION
I Want a Referendum has announced the results of the EU referendum held in Pudsey and nine other constituencies across the country.
The referendums have been carried out for IWR by Electoral Reform Services – a leading firm of independent election scrutineers recognised by the United Nations, the British Government, and used by all the three main parties for their internal elections.
The referendums have led to an unprecedented response from voters for an unofficial poll. Postal ballots were sent to nearly 38,000 people in the Pudsey constituency. 35.1% of ballot papers distributed were returned.
Paul Truswell, Labour MP for Pudsey, announced during the campaign that he would vote for a referendum.
Key Results
Stunningly, 152,520 people voted across just ten parliamentary constituencies. 133,251 voted for a referendum.
13,310 people voted in Pudsey, of whom 11,495 are in favour of a referendum – 86.4%.
Even though the poll was unofficial, the 36.2% turnout means that a higher proportion of people voted in these unofficial referendums than in real elections in their local area. In Pudsey 35.1% of voters who were sent ballot papers responded. The average turnout for local elections (when not held with general elections) since 1996 is 35.4%. The average turnout in referendums on directly elected mayors - including in London - was 30.1%.
In Pudsey, a greater proportion of people voted for a referendum than voted for sitting MP Paul Truswell at the last election. 30.3% of those balloted in Pudsey voted for a referendum, while Paul Truswell won 30.2% of the vote.
Voters in Pudsey resoundingly rejected the EU's Lisbon Treaty. 11,716 people voted against it – 88% of those responding.
Supporters with a giant ballot paper return envelope, at the launch of the Pudsey constituency referendum campaign.
SUPPORTERS
IWR currently has 2856 supporters in Yorkshire.
Chairman
Victor Watson - former Chairman, Waddingtons
Press officer
Simon Mountford, Simon Mounford Communications
Telephone: 01904 520 162
Leading supporters, all of whom support the campaign in a personal capacity, include:
- Stuart Archbold OBE - Chairman Archbold Logistics
- Gordon Black CBE - Chairman, Peter Black Holdings
- Judith Donovan CBE - Founder, DIY Direct Marketing
- Denis Greenwood CBE - President, Greenwood Menswear
- Kevin Hollinrake, founder and MD of Hunters Estage Agency chain
- John Jackson CBE - Chairman, Whitley Willows Ltd
- Richard Jackson MBE DL - Chairman, Mercedes Benz North Yorkshire
- Christopher Jewitt DL - Managing Director, Footprint Tools
- Graham Keddie OBE - Chairman, GSPK Group
- Peter Marshall OBE - St George Martin Trust
- Michael Massingberd - Chairman, Massingberd Group P.L.C.
- John Pennington, former Chairman, Pennington's Live
- Chris Rea - Managing Director, AESSEAL plc
- Paul Sykes - Highstone Group
- The Hon Neil Turner OBE DL - Chairman, Edward Turner and Son Ltd
If you would like to get involved with the campaign in Yorkshire please email:
yorkshire@iwantareferendum.com
EVENTS
The Yorkshire for a Referendum campaign launched in Sheffield and Leeds on 29 October. Campaigners inflated the giant inflatable I Want a Referendum ballot box at Sheffield Airport and the West Yorkshire playhouse. I Want a Referendum Chairman, Derek Scott, spoke at a meeting of supporters in Leeds afterwards.
The launch received considerable coverage. The Yorkshire Post and the Yorkshire Evening Post both quoted Victor Watson, Chairman of Yorkshire for a Referendum, saying: "This new treaty hands over considerable areas of decision making to unelected politicians in Brussels. The referendum debate goes to the heart of the way we are governed. We elect our MPs to govern on our behalf; if they want to give away their responsibility to European institutions, they should ask us first. Gordon Brown must keep his promise if he wants to prove he is serious when he talks about listening to people and restoring trust in politics."
The Sheffield launch was covered in the Sheffield Star and Derek Scott was interviewed on BBC Radio Sheffieldand BBC TV for Look North.
Yorkshire for a Referendum Chairman Victor Watson in front of the I Want a Referendum ballot box at the launch in Leeds.
YORKSHIRE FOR A REFERENDUM IN THE NEWS
Yorkshire for a Referendum has recieved widespread media coverage. Below is a selection from the print and broadcast media:
"Support for referendum on new EU treaty in Leeds suburb" Yorkshire Post 4 March
"I will rebel over EU reform treaty says MP" Yorkshire Post 22 February
"EU treaty 'will not affect foreign policy choices" Yorkshire Post 22 February
“Referendum vote campaign launched” Telegraph And Argus 12 February
“Ballot papers go out for EU poll” Yorkshire Post 8 February
“Activists hold poll over
“Andrew Cope: Voters get their first chance to reject
“Villagers have a say on EU by having poll and a pint” Northern Echo, 19 December
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“Join campaign for referendum” Wetherby News 14 December
“Business leader says new EU Constitution a step backwards” Yorkshire Evening Post 13 December
“Tight controls needed on EU spending” Yorkshire Post 28 November
“Master Cutlers back campaign for Euro referendum” Sheffield Star 1 November
”EU ballot campaigners pump up the volume” Yorkshire Post 30 October
“A question of trust as we wait for the people's voice to be heard on
"Referendum vote campaign launched" Telegraph and Argus 12 February
"Support for referendum on new EU treaty in Leeds suburb" Yorkshire Evening Post 4 March
This broken promise is part of a wider fear of democracy.
