DENIAL OF REFERENDUM VOTE ON EU AN OUTRAGE - BURT

9.27.00pm GMT Wed 27th Feb 2008

Last night Lib Dem MPs left the House of Commons en-masse, while Ed Davey MP was ejected from the Palace of Westminster after the Speaker refused to allow a vote on the party's amendment calling for an in-out referendum on the EU.

Solihull MP, Lorely Burt commented:

"To deny Parliament the chance to vote on our proposal to allow the public to have a real say on Britain's membership of the European Union is an outrage.

"To allow a vote on a restrictive Treaty referendum but deny one on the real issue of our membership of the EU is absurd. It is like asking the travelling public to choose between bus or train without asking whether they actually want to continue on the journey at all.

"Both Labour and the Conservatives have colluded to keep this entire debate focused away from the fundamental issue of whether we want to be in or out of Europe.

"The Conservatives are proposing a referendum only on the Lisbon Treaty. That would not give British people a say on our fundamental relationship with Europe. What would happen if they succeeded in rejecting the treaty in a referendum?

"A rejection of the treaty would actually make it more difficult to have the real debate on membership of the EU. What are they scared of?

"I know that many local people want to have the chance to have a say on this fundamental question and I will continue to fight for their right to decide.

"Whilst local Liberal Democrats and I would make the positive case for Europe, the final decision should rest with the people. After all, you don't win arguments by stifling debate."