The date is now set for MPs to debate and vote for or against an EU Referendum
on Monday 24th October!

Next Step... How you can Help

The date of the MPs debate and vote in Parliament is now set Monday 24th October, we are asking you to phone, write or email your MP to request they attend the debate in Parliament for a "Referendum on our Membership of the European Union" Please ask: Is your MP attending the debate? Is your MP for or against a Referendum?

Remember If you have a Liberal Democrat MP, that at the last General Election Liberal Democrat MPs stood on the following manifesto commitment:
"The European Union has evolved significantly since the last public vote on membership over thirty years ago. Liberal Democrats therefore remain committed to an in/out referendum the next time a British government signs up for fundamental change in the relationship between the UK and the EU.”
Also a sizeable number of Labour MPs also want a referendum to split the coalition!
We are then asking you to forward any replies that you receive back to us at eureferednumcampaign@gmail.com

Once again, we'd like to thank you for all your efforts so far.

4th October 2011
The Campaign goes to the Conservative Conference, Manchester
where Nikki speaks to David Cameron

Nikki had the opportunity to challenge the Prime Minister to ask him to give us a Referendum on our Membership of the European Union. As ever he was evasive but acknowledged the 100,000 petition that was delivered by me and other MEPs and M's.
Nikki pointed out that in a recent opinion poll 74% of Tory voters want a referendum. He was very pleasant but non committal.

4th October 2011

MPs to Vote on EU Referendum before Christmas!

A historic vote on growing demands for Britain to leave the European Union will be held in the Commons before Christmas. MPs will debate whether the Government should give voters a chance to decide the issue once and for all in a referendum.
It will be the first time Parliament has held a major vote on seeking the public’s view since the 1975 referendum confirming the decision to join the Common Market.
If MPs vote in favour of a referendum, the result would not be binding on the Government.
But, combined with growing public opposition to the increasing power of the EU, it would put enormous pressure on David Cameron to let the people decide the country’s European fate. The Commons vote has been forced on MPs – and a reluctant Prime Minister.
The decision to hold a debate was made after a petition, signed by more than 100,000 people demanding a referendum, was delivered to No10 Downing Street by a cross party group of MPs and MEPs led by Independent MEP Nikki Sinclaire.

Nikki Sinclaire, who organised the petition, said: “This is an argument that has been going on far too long. We must have a referendum, and the Government must abide by the result.”
That Backbench Business Committee has now promised to grant a one-day debate on a referendum after Parliament returns next week.
The debate will then be held before the end of the year. According to a recent You Gov poll commissioned by us If there was a vote, a massive 52% would vote to leave, with only 30% preferring to stay in and 15% undecided and 4% not bothering to vote
Withdrawing from the EU has support at the highest level of the party, including from Mr Cameron’s senior No 10 adviser, Steve Hilton.
The Commons vote is a nightmare for the Coalition. Mr Cameron was heavily criticised in Opposition for going back on a pledge to hold a referendum on the 2007 Lisbon Treaty which continued the process of switching sovereignty to the EU.
He fears a referendum would be a distraction from his attempts to solve Britain’s economic problems. But he will face a mass revolt if he orders Tory MPs to vote against it.
The Government has suffered three defeats as a result of debates ordered by the Backbench Business Committee, including rejecting a European bid to give prisoners the vote.