Local Euro MP says 'we still desperately need EU debate' (Diana Wallis MEP)

Diana Wallis MEP <info@dianawallismep.org.uk>

Local Euro MP says 'we still desperately need EU debate'

June 5, 2005 1:12 PM

Commenting ahead of Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's widely expected announcement to effectively scrap the referendum on the EU Constitutional Treaty, Diana Wallis MEP, said there are several critical issues.

The Lib Dem Euro MP for Yorkshire and the Humber said:

"Firstly it shouldn't be the French or the Dutch who should decide for us - we should have our own referendum."

"Secondly, scrapping the referendum won't diminish the need for a debate amongst the people in this country about our relations with the EU. In my opinion, the referendum was the best device for this. If it is to be scrapped, we still desperately need that debate so I propose that the Government along with all the political parties, representatives of civil society and other stakeholders should announce plans to take this issue into all the regions. What about the 'national conversation' we previously heard so much about from Labour?"

"Thirdly it will be the fourth referendum the people in this region have been promised over the past few years and which will have been pulled. We were promised referendums on the Euro, a change to the voting system, on elected regional assemblies and now the Constitutional Treaty; none of which are now likely to happen in the near future."

"It shows a real contempt by the Government for the people of this region that it can be so footloose with the democratic process. Is it any wonder there is such widespread cynicism amongst people in their view of politicians?"