Derek Deedman

The Liberal Democrat proposal in parliament yesterday that would have enabled a debate today on an ‘in-out’ referendum has been blocked by Labour and Conservative MPs. It was defeated by 471 votes to 68.

There is a report on the vote on the BBC website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7277400.stm

MPs’ from a number of parties as well as the Lib Dems, voted for the proposal. Those voting against included Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Arundel & South Downs MP, Nick Herbert.

Once again, Nick Herbert, despite his well known anti- EU views, has voted to deny local people a real vote on Europe. Remember, the Mori survey published yesterday demonstrated that by a margin of more than two to one, people prefer the Lib Dems  call for a referendum on membership of the European Union, to the Conservative proposal for a referendum only on the Lisbon Treaty.