Council demands EU Treaty Referendum from Gordon Brown
Rory addressing a pro-referendum rally in Folkestone Town Centre last month
Shepway District Council has called on the Prime Minister to hold a referendum on the proposed EU Reform Treaty, following backing for a motion proposed by Cllr Rory Love (Conservative, Harvey West ward) at yesterday’s full council meeting.
Cllr Love said that residents in Shepway have a special interest in European matters, with sporting, educational and economic links through the Boulogne and Shepway Co-operation Association. He also said that Shepway has a track record of empowering people to take more control over their communities, and has recently supported the creation of three parish councils. He urged the Council not to “sit idly by” while Gordon Brown denies Shepway residents a say over the transfer of more powers to Brussels.
Seconding the motion, Cllr Philip Martin (Conservative, Harvey Central ward) explained that the Reform Treaty is described by other European Heads of Government as being virtually the same document as the old EU constitution which was rejected by voters in France and The Netherlands in 2005. Cllr Love’s motion gained cross-party support.
Rory Love told councillors in the chamber:
“There are two reasons why the people of Shepway, and the whole of the UK, should have a voice on the EU Reform Treaty. The first is that no further powers should be transferred to the EU without the express consent of the British people. To do this without our consent is profoundly anti-democratic.
“The second reason is quite simply that Gordon Brown and his Government promised us a referendum before the 2005 general election. I believe that when a politician makes a promise before an election, he should keep that promise after the election. Failure to do so breaks the trust between government and governed. How will anyone be able to trust anything Gordon Brown tells us ever again?”
The full text of Cllr Love’s motion was:
“This Council calls on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to honour the commitment given in the Labour Party’s 2005 general election manifesto and give Shepway’s residents a voice on the EU Reform Treaty by holding a national referendum.”
1st November 2007
“How will anyone be able to trust anything Gordon Brown tells us ever again?”