PM: No need for referendum

Sunday, 7th August 2011

UKIP Leader Nigel Farage has reacted angrily to an article in the Sunday Express that reveals the Prime Minister has no intention of granting the British people a referendum on continued membership of the European Union.

An Oxfordshire Conservative Party activist wrote to David Cameron requesting a referendum. The response, written by the Prime Minster's Private Secretary, rules out giving the UK the opportunity to have their say by claiming a "very clear result" was delivered on the issue 36 years ago. He then went on to write that the British people did not want another in or out vote on the EU because it would be "artificial and simplistic".

In response to this clear snub of the will of the electorate, Mr Farage said: "I think we have finally seen the Prime Minister's true colours when it comes to the EU - he's a fan and despite the weak euroscpetic posturing we have witnessed recently by parts of the Conservative Party, it is clear that Mr Cameron has no intention of letting us have our say on future EU membership.

"The argument that the 1975 referendum delivered a clear mandate for membership is incredibly poor. Firstly, that was when the British people were asked about the European Economic Community. Over the last 36 years the EEC has morphed into the EU with its tentacles now reaching far and wide. Secondly, anyone under the age of 53 was not able to vote in 1975. By refusing a referendum it shows utter contempt for a massive chunk of the population."

To read the full text of the letter sent by Laurence Mann, the Prime Minister’s political private secretary, to Conservative activist Anita Segar on July 20 click here.