As Gordon Brown confirms that he will deny the British public their referendum on the EU Treaty, Mark Garnier, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Wyre Forest, launches his petition to demand that Brown honour his manifesto pledge. Gordon Brown and Tony Blair promised in 2005 that the British people would be given the opportunity to vote on ratification of the EU Constitution.
But that opportunity was kicked into the long grass by Dutch and French voters giving a very definite thumbs down at their referenda.
Since then, the Constitution has been re-christened the EU Treaty and Tony Blair signed up to it as his last act as Prime Minister. But almost everyone agrees that this new Treaty is just the same old Constitution by another name. Now, Gordon Brown has ruled out any chance of the British public being given their voice.
Commenting on the petition, Mark Garnier said:
"Wyre Forest residents have been denied the opportunity to vote on this crucial issue by Gordon Brown. This is absolutely intolerable.
"This petition is not simply about Europe: It is about Gordon Brown keeping his word. The Labour Government has form on breaking manifesto pledges - witness university top-up fees. I want Wyre Forest resident to be given the opportunity to have a say on Europe.
"Over the next few months, local Conservatives will be delivering my latest newsletter that has a reply card in to sign up to the petition. But in the meantime, people can sign up online at my website www.markgarnier.co.uk
"I expect every Labour politician locally to sign this - particularly candidates in the last general election who stood on the manifesto promising the referendum and especially given that the Trades Unions are also calling for Brown to honour his promise."