South West for a referendum

SOMERTON & FROME VOTERS DEMAND NATIONAL REFERENDUM ON REVIVED EU CONSTITUTION

I Want a Referendum has announced the results of the EU referendum held in Somerton & Frome and nine other constituencies across the country.

The referendums have been carried out for IWR by Electoral Reform Services – a leading firm of independent election scrutineers recognised by the United Nations, the British Government, and used by all the three main parties for their internal elections.

The referendums have led to an unprecedented response from voters for an unofficial poll. Postal ballots were sent to more than 48,000 people in the Somerton & Frome constituency. 36.2% of ballot papers distributed were returned.

David Heath, Liberal Democrat MP for Somerton and Frome, announced during the campaign that he would defy the party whip and vote for a referendum on the Treaty. He announced that he was prepared to be sacked from his front bench role in order to vote for the referendum.

Key results:

Stunningly, 152,520 people voted across just ten parliamentary constituencies. 133,251 voted for a referendum.

The turnout in Somerton & Frome reflected the average for the ten referendums being held across the country. Some 17,554 people voted in Somerton & Frome, of whom 15,323 are in favour of a referendum.

Even though the poll was unofficial, there was a 36.2% turnout across the country. In Somerton & Frome 36.2% of voters who were sent ballot papers responded. A higher proportion of people voted in these unofficial referendums than in real elections in their local area. The average turnout for local elections (when not held with general elections) since 1996 is 35.4%. The average turnout in referendums on directly elected mayors - including in London - was 30.1%.

In Somerton & Frome, a greater proportion of people voted for a referendum than voted for sitting MP David Heath at the last election. 31.6% of those balloted in Somerton & Frome voted for a referendum, while David Heath won 30.5% of the vote.

Somerton & Frome's voters resoundingly rejected the EU's Lisbon Treaty. 15,427 people voted against it – 87.9% of those responding.

The giant ballot box is inflated in front of the Market Place in Castle Cary, marking the launch of the Somerton & Frome constituency referendum campaign.

SUPPORTERS

IWR currently has 5273 supporters in the South West.

Chairman

Simon Whitmore - former Chairman, Butcombe Brewery

Leading supporters, all of whom support the campaign in a personal capacity, include:

• Sir Antony Acland KG, GCMG, GCVO - former Head of the UK Diplomatic Service
• Mike Eathorne- Gibbons - Secretary and Co-ordinator, Mid Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
• John Haynes OBE - Founder, Haynes Publishing Group
• Anthony Jay
• Sir John Jennings CBE - former Chairman of Shell Transport and Trading Company
• John Langham CBE - Founder, Langham Industries
• Terence Mordaunt - Chairman, The Bristol Port Company
• David Ord - Managing Director, The Bristol Port Company
• James Staughton - Managing Director, St Austell's Brewery

If you would like to get involved with the campaign in the South West please email:

southwest@iwantareferendum.com

EVENTS

South West for a Referendum was launched in Bristol and Exeter on 5 November. Campaigners inflated the giant inflatable I Want a Referendum ballot box on College Green in Bristol and in Goldsmith Square, Exeter. Simon Whitmore, Chairman of South West for a Referendum was interviewed about the launch of the campaign on BBC Radio Bristo's breakfast show. Simon was also interviewed by BBC South West Politics show, alongside I Want a Referendum Chairman Derek Scott.

The launches were also covered in the Exeter Express and Echo, the Bristol Evening Post and Simon Whitmore was interviewed by the Western Morning News.

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South West for a Referendum supporters (from the left) Sir John Jennings, Simon Whitmore and Sir Antony Acland in front of the inflatable ballot box in Exeter.

SOUTH WEST FOR A REFERENDUM IN THE NEWS

Below is a selection of media coverage in the South West:

"Europe? It seems the jury's still out" Western Daily Press 3 March

"Brussels doubts" Somerset Standard 21 February

"Blow up ballot box gets airing" Somerset Standard 21 February

"Clegg facing a rebel in the ranks" Somerset Standard 19 February

"I'm ready for sack in Euro poll clash" Somerset Standard 15 February

"Euro campaign controversy" Somerset Standard 14 February

"EU vote on new EU treaty" BBC Points West 11 February

“Giant ballot box launches call for referendum” Bristol Evening Post 7 November

“Treaty Group Blow up the Ballot Box” Exeter Express and Echo 6 November

"Referendum call in Somerton constituency" Yeovil News 4 March