IWR in the news

11/10/07

Mike’s back in politics to call for referendum

Carlisle News & Star

ONE OF west Cumbria’s best-known Conservatives is making a political comeback.

Former councillor and parliamentary candidate Mike Graham is backing a campaign for a referendum on the new EU reform treaty.

He led the Conservative group on Copeland Council until he stepped down as a councillor in 2003 to concentrate on his business.

And as Tory candidate for Copeland at the 2001 general election, Mr Graham slashed the majority of sitting Labour MP Dr Jack Cunningham.

He is now the Cumbrian face of “I want a referendum”, a cross-party organisation calling for a referendum before Britain signs up to the new EU reform treaty.

Mr Graham said: “When we joined the European Union, then the Common Market, it was a trading partnership. It has changed markedly over the years.

“There is talk of a sovereign state of Europe with a single president for the whole EU.

“We need a referendum to establish that we are focused on what we want and not what is being imposed.”

Mr Graham, who runs the catering equipment specialist G&M Supplies in Whitehaven, said he was not against Britain’s membership of the European Union.

He added: “I support us being part of Europe but I’m not convinced that a single sovereign state of Europe would be beneficial.”

The pro-referendum campaign is stepping up its efforts following the return of parliament this week.

It is planning an event in Carlisle next Wednesday.

The government promised a referendum on the treaty’s forerunner, the EU constitution, which was shelved after voters in France and Holland rejected it.

Downing Street has no plans for a referendum on the reform treaty as ministers say it is “substantially different”.

That stance is under pressure after the Commons European scrutiny committee ruled this week that the treaty is “substantially equivalent” to the constitution.