Conservatives Fail to Support Euro-Referendum
November 15, 2007 2:35 PM
Labour and the Conservatives voted together on Wednesday to deny the public a vote on whether or not the UK should remain in the European Union. A Liberal Democrat amendment to the Queen's Speech laid out proposals for a referendum on the UK's continued membership of the European Union.
Commenting, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable, said:
"Labour and the Tories have rejected our call for the public to vote on the UK's membership of the European Union. No member of the public under the age of fifty has had the opportunity to have a say on the crucial cumulative changes that have taken place over the last few decades. The case for a referendum on membership is overwhelming and the Liberal Democrats will be proud to lead the pro-Europe case.
"The Tories have shown once again that they are all over the place on Europe. It seems extraordinary to vote against having a referendum on membership when they must know that many of their supporters would have one tomorrow.
"The Tories have been exposed as being deeply confused and defensive because they know that if there were to be a referendum, they would be split right down the middle."
1.Amendment to the Queen's Speech as follows:
'....but humbly regret that the Gracious Speech fails to announce proposals for a referendum on the United Kingdom's continued membership of the European Union.'.
Shepway Liberal Democrat Councillor Tim Prater commented:
"Two weeks ago, the Conservatives on Shepway Council proposed a motion that there should be a referendum on Europe - and then yesterday, Conservative MPs vote against a referendum - they're all over the place!
"You simply can't trust the Tories to be consistent from one place to another.
"Although I question why time was given to discussing a motion on Europe at a Shepway Council meeting - which would have been much better spent offering our strong and immediate backing to local fire fighters despite Tory delaying tactics - I voted for the principle of a referendum on Europe. So did almost all Conservatives. Yesterday, the Conservatives failed to support the Lib Dems in Parliament as they pushed for a referendum.
"The Tories have achieved a unique double whammy: two weeks ago, Shepway Tories let down local people by refusing to immediately back the campaign against cuts to Folkestone fire services. And yesterday, the Conservatives in Parliament let down Shepway as they failed to back a referendum on Europe."
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