BURT BACKS CALL FOR REFERENDUM ON EU MEMBERSHIP

10.54.35pm GMT Mon 12th Nov 2007

Commenting on the news today that the Liberal Democrats are tabling an amendment to the Queen's Speech calling for a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union, West Worcestershire's LibDem Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt, said:

"The EU has changed beyond recognition from the EEC that Britain originally joined in 1973.

"No-one in Worcestershire or anywhere else in the country under the age of fifty - including the current Foreign Secretary - has had a say on Britain's membership of the European Union.

"An in-out referendum would give people a proper and honest debate about the future of Britain's relationship with the EU.

"The Conservatives have indulged in the worst kind of anti-European populism, calling for referendums on individual treaties to mask their own divisions and the wishes of many of their own MPs to leave the European Union altogether.

"Gordon Brown appears scared to make the case for Europe.

"The West Worcestershire Liberal Democrats and I are ready to make the positive case for Europe in a proper locally based public debate about our membership, and we should then trust the people to make a decision about whether we should stay in or get out."