News story

27th May 2003

Local MP Backs Referendum on Europe

Northavon MP Steve Webb has added his voice to calls for a referendum on the new constitution for Europe, currently being drafted by Parliamentarians from across Europe.

A new constitution for the EU has just been published in draft form and will form the basis for negotiations between national governments over the coming months before a final version is ratified by the Council of Ministers, probably in about a year’s time. After that, individual national parliaments will also have to approve the document.

Lib Dem MP Steve Webb has said that once a final version of the constitution is agreed, it should be put to a public vote as will happen in a number of other member states.

Steve Webb said:

“With ten new countries joining the European Union, it is understandable that the EU has had to rethink how it is going to operate, and it is quite right that this is going to be set out in a single document.

To some extent that document repeats existing arrangements, but the fact that there has been such a strong reaction even to those elements shows how far politicians have lost touch with the public on the issue of Europe.

A referendum would be a golden opportunity for a proper debate about our place in Europe. The Government should welcome such a debate with open arms instead of acting as though they have got something to hide”.


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