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Villagers stage EU treaty 'referendum' poll | the Daily Mail
Villagers stage EU treaty 'referendum' poll
Last updated at 17:13pm on 19th September 2007
Residents of a small rural village are to have their own vote on whether there should be a referendum on the new European Union treaty.
Using a provision of the Local Government Act 1972, local supporters of the UK Independence Party (Ukip) have exercised the right of the parish of East Stoke, near Wareham, Dorset, to hold the poll.
The Act states that if 10 members of a parish call for a vote on any subject then the council is obliged to carry out the request.
The decision to hold tomorrow's vote, which will be on the question: "Do you want a referendum on the proposed new EU treaty?", has been welcomed by the Campaign Alliance for Referendums in Parishes (Carp), which is affiliated to Ukip.
It hopes to hold further polls across the country to put pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to hold a referendum on whether to accept the treaty.
Roger Knapman, UK Independence Party MEP for the South Western Counties, said: "We very much welcome this move to give people a say and will support it fully.
"In this case we are talking about a crucial issue involving the sovereignty of our country.
"There should be a proper national referendum. As the Government has reneged on its promise to hold one, I certainly am encouraging people to make their own arrangements.
"With sufficient pressure, the call for a referendum will become irresistible."
And today on the Today program at 8.57
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/li...5_20070919.ram