EU referendum campaigners make a point with ballot box protest

Oct 17 2007 by Aaron Boland, Liverpool Daily Post

CAMPAIGNERS calling for a referendum on the new EU treaty yesterday inflated a giant ballot box in Liverpool.

Members of I Want a Referendum (IWR) blew up the box on St George’s Plateau just before 2pm.

The stunt was staged by the North West team of the IWR before Gordon Brown’s visit to Portugal later this week, to agree the new treaty with other EU leaders.

Last night the Foreign Office repeated a referendum was not needed as it had secured control over human and social rights, foreign policy, tax and benefits.

But campaigners say more than 95% of the treaty is the same as the old EU constitution which was ditched after the French and Dutch rejected it in referendums in 2005.

The stunt in Liverpool marked the launch of the IWR campaign in the North West, a week after the lobby group, which has cross party support, released a cinema advert.

Alan Halsall, chairman of the North West campaign, said: “I think it is essential the people of this country get over to the politicians that they can’t just offer a referendum and then take it away.

“Gordon Brown came to power and the one thing he talked about was consultation.

“I believe it should be put to the people so we can have a proper debate about the subject.”