John Baron MP supports ‘Let Britain Decide’ campaign for an EU referendum

MP says help us win historic EU vote

John Baron MP is urging people from Basildon and Billericay to help the campaign to secure the first EU referendum in 40 years. This follows news that the Prime Minister has today launched a new campaign website, www.LetBritainDecide.com, which makes it simple for people to join the campaign to back the Bill about to go through Parliament.

The Bill contains the enabling legislation for a vote in 2017, after a period of renegotiation – something which John and over 100 other Conservative colleagues have campaigned for over the last year, culminating in his Amendment to the Queen’s Speech. www.LetBritainDecide.com aims to build public pressure, give people a voice, and urge MPs from all parties to listen to their constituents.

John said,

“An in/out EU referendum is long overdue. The British people last had their say on Europe in 1975, and voted for a free-trade area. Since then, the EU has fundamentally changed, and is moving towards ever-closer political union. Yet, the political establishment over the last thirty years has denied the electorate its say. That time has now come.”

“A draft Bill to make this happen will be first debated on 5^th July by MPs, but it needs the support of Labour and the Liberal Democrats to pass. Please sign up today at www.LetBritainDecide.com and make your voice heard.”

Ends

Word Count: 238

Date: 12^th June 2013

Notes to Editors:

• It has been nearly 40 years since the British people last had their say on Europe. In that time, much has changed – the EU has expanded, powers have been devolved, and the costs of membership have vastly increased. People feel the EU is heading in a direction they never agreed to.

• It is right to negotiate a fresh settlement in the EU that is better for Britain – and then put the result to the British people in an in/out referendum before the end of 2017. Only the Conservatives are currently committed to this.

• The Conservatives have brought forward a draft EU Referendum Bill to legislate for an in/out referendum before the end of 2017. This will first be debated in Parliament on 5^th July, but it will need the support of either Labour or Liberal Democrat MPs to pass. If passed, it will then go into Committee for scrutiny, and then return to the Floor of the House for its final and most important vote.

• www.LetBritainDecide.com will be a vehicle to build public pressure and give people a say. This isn’t just a Conservative campaign – it’s for everyone who believes we need a say.