Support for Referendum on EU Membership

6.23.37pm GMT Sat 2nd Feb 2008

Writing in the EDP today regarding a referendum on EU membership, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman Simon Wright said:

"Successive Conservative and Labour Government's have pressed ahead with treaties that have radically redefined the European Union. The Maastricht Treaty, the Amsterdam Treaty , the Nice Treaty - all are less significant than the latest Lisbon Treaty, and all were passed by the British public without referenda.

When the Liberal Democrats proposed in the House of Commons a referendum over EU membership last year, the Conservatives and Labour formed a pact to reject the proposal.

It's been over 30 years since the public last had a say at the ballot box about our country's position in the EU. Its time we had that chance again. Not over yet another amending treaty, but on the really big issue - should we be 'in or out' of the EU?"