IWR in the news

17/10/07

Manchester I want a Referendum Launch

Manchester Evening News

AN INFLATABLE ballot box was hoisted in Manchester by campaigners demanding a referendum on the controversial EU treaty.

The bus-sized box was inflated outside Urbis before going to Liverpool.

The stunt by cross-party pressure group I Want a Referendum came ahead of Gordon Brown's crunch talks in Lisbon with European heads of state.

The government denied the need for a referendum, saying there would be 'red lines' on domestic legal and tax issues. The campaigners pointed out Mr Brown DID promise a referendum on the EU Constitution - which was scrapped in favour of the treaty.

A Labour-led group of backbench MPs said the two were 'substantially equivalent'.

Chairman Alan Halsall said: "Behind our stunt is a deeply important issue. We desperately want people to understand what the EU Treaty is about and join us in demanding the prime minister holds a referendum - a pledge he was elected on."