Local Lib Dem Euro MP's demand from leader Ming Campbell to commit party to EU referendum

5.46.12pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 14th Sep 2007

Local Liberal Democrat Euro MP, Diana Wallis, has written a letter to party leader Ming Campbell asking him to commit the Liberal Democrats to holding a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty.

The letter, which Ms. Wallis hopes will be signed by hundreds of party activists from across the region, will be handed to Mr. Campbell next week at the Liberal Democrats annual conference in Brighton.

Diana Wallis, a Vice President of the European Parliament, said:

"I am following up on the feedback I got from Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidates, councillors, activists and others across the region in the summer regarding a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty.

"This is clearly an issue that won't go away. There is already a great deal of speculation ahead of the party's conference next week and I propose to present a letter to Ming to get a firm commitment from him that the Liberal Democrats will hold a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty."

"In the past the Liberal Democrats have said 'yes' to a referendum on the original Constitutional Treaty and, as has been widely acknowledged, the new EU Reform Treaty is overwhelmingly the same document.

"Many Liberal Democrats feel that this is an opportunity to properly debate, out in the open, the UK's present and future relations with the EU, for the first time in a generation."

ends.

Note

Copy of Letter to Ming Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrats, signed by PPCs, approved candidates, activists and others to be presented to him at the party's Conference in Brighton asking him to commit the Liberal Democrats to holding a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty.

Dear Ming

There has been a great deal of speculation as to whether the party will support the idea of a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty.

We the undersigned believe that the party should support a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty and ask you to reconsider your reported view in the national press.

In the past the Liberal Democrats have made a firm commitment to a referendum on the original Constitutional Treaty and as has been widely acknowledged, the EU Reform Treaty consists overwhelmingly of that original document.

We also feel that this is an opportunity to properly debate, out in the open, the UK's present and future relations with the EU. We believe that such a referendum is not something to be afraid of, rather it should be embraced as a real opportunity to have our first nationwide debate on Europe for over a generation.

We hope that you agree to our request and listen to the full range of voices in the party commit Liberal Democrats to referendum on the EU Reform Treaty.

Yours faithfully,

Diana Wallis MEP