A call for EU referendum

Tuesday August 2,2011

By Martyn Brown, Political Correspondent



Have your say(14)



THE British public should get a referendum on European Union membership, a Daily Express poll confirms today.




An overwhelming 99 per cent of our readers say the time has come for voters to decide if the UK should be freed from the shackles of Brussels, our exclusive survey reveals.

Asked if Britons should be given a vote on quitting the EU, they answered with a resounding “Yes”.

Support for our petition to force a vote smashed through the 40,000 barrier yesterday.

We have already had a massive response since the e-petition launch on Saturday demanding a referendum on EU membership.

**CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION TODAY**

At one stage a staggering 1,000 people an hour added their signatures to our list, which could lead to Parliament debating the issue.MPs from across the political spectrum have given their backing to this newspaper’s petition.

Tory MP Douglas Carswell threw his weight behind the campaign yesterday, urging the “Westminster elite” to recognise the groundswell of public support.

He said: “Please keep the pressure on by supporting the Daily Express campaign.”

Everyone who signs up will have their signature added to our exclusive “Britain wants a referendum to leave the EU” petition, which has been registered on the Government’s new Directgov e-petitions website.

Readers without internet access can log support by writing to us instead and we will register their signatures.

The Government has said that it will consider any public campaign backed by 100,000 signatures for a debate in Parliament.

After just three days of the petition being active we are well on the way to that target.

This newspaper’s historic crusade – the first to demand that Britain must quit the EU – has already been backed by almost 400,000 people in a postal coupon campaign earlier this year. Now our readers can force the issue direct to the heart of Government again via the e-petition and by sending in letters of support.

Last night the colossal surge of support was being viewed as a warning to Brussels that Britain has had enough of meddling, financial fears and an ever-growing tax burden.

The Government’s e-petitions website was launched last week by Commons Leader Sir George Young.

Any campaign on the site backed by 100,000 signatures would trigger consideration for debate in Parliament, he said.

The backbench business committee will assess all petitions that qualify and decide if they should be given time from the 35 days allocated each session for non-governmental business.



To register your support online go to www.express.co.uk/web/referendum or write to “Referendum to leave the EU petition”, Newsdesk, The Northern & Shell Building, 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6EN.

COMMENT

Douglas Carswell, Conservative MP for Clacton

It was 83 years ago when the Westminster elite finally conceded that everyone in Britain ought to have the right to vote.

Now they have at last recognised that the voters should have a say over what issues their MPs debate.

e-Petitions will allow ordinary folk to set the Parliamentary agenda instead of simply leaving it to Westminster grandees. If more than 100,000 voters demand a debate, the House of Commons will have to hold it.

No longer will self-regarding politicians in “safe seats” be able to skate over those things that matter to the taxpayers. One issue they have skated over for very many years is Britain’s membership of the EU.

For decades, many MPs insisted that being in the EU bolstered our economy. Today we find we are bailing out Euroland. They said there would be no further integration. Then they signed away yet more power to Brussels.

Before the last election, all three parties promised us a referendum on Europe – and somehow it never happened.

But getting a debate in the Commons is just a start. We need to ensure that MPs vote – as many of them promised before the last election – in favour of an In/Out referendum. So please keep the pressure on by backing the Daily Express crusade to force a referendum on leaving the European Union.

There are, I know, some decent, honest people who genuinely believe that remaining in the EU is in our national interest.

A referendum would also be their chance to try to persuade the rest of us.

Holding a referendum will ensure it is the people, not the Westminster elite, who have the final say. That is why the Daily Express has launched its crusade to let you decide.

A campaign called the People’s Pledge has also asked voters to sign a commitment saying their vote will go to a candidate who gives them a referendum on EU membership.

We have already signed up one in 10 MPs, and many more will join. Believe me, for every MP who sees the light 10 will come round as they feel the heat.


http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/262590/40-000-people-support-call-for-EU-referendum

I agree we should have a say but I doubt it will happen .

Maybe if people keep on pushing for a referendum? I hope millions sign the petition, surely the Government will have to listen then? Keep on hoping.