gawain

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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

harryaldridge

Gawain, also good BBC 1 o'clock news segment here BBC Media Player

__________________
http://vindicovindico.blogspot.com
Vote Harry Aldridge (PPC and MEP)

ANGLO-STAFFS

It will be interesting to see how many of the good folk of East Stoke Parish turn out to vote. There are fewer than 400 people in the parish and it is costing them about £1.50 each from the Parish rate to take part in this little publicity farce. How many will bother?

Britannist

Why is it a "farce"? A few years ago a Welsh village adopted use of the euro (instead of the Pound) for a short time. They then voted to reject it by a huge (almost overwhelming majority) in their own referendum (the result of which was announced live on ITV Television news).

ANGLO-STAFFS

FARCE: "a dramatic interlude, a style of comedy marked by extravagant gesture, an empty show, a pretence".

Sums it up.

As for the Welsh village. OK, they played with using the Euro, (did they have a referendum before they started?) They then found it didn't work, probably because there was nowhere to spend it except in their own village pub and post office. They tried a practical experiment which failed, so they changed their mind, what a surprise.
Also, from what I have seen of Welsh village votes Huge is not a word which springs to mind.

Tom Wilde

Vast publicity for the East Stoke poll! Most of the coverage mentions UKIP. Nice one Gawain!!

The Sun:
Sleepy village first on EU vote

The Daily Telegraph:
EU vote given momentum by Dorset village

The Times:
Villagers get the only vote on EU

Evening Standard (London):
The Dorset village holding Britain's first referendum on EU treaty
(Story illustrated by a picture of Roger Knapman MEP standing outside polling station!)

p.s. For Anglo-Staffs - this quote answers your commnet about the cost of the poll. It is from The Sun's story:

Independent UKIP

If this is a farce then I look forward to more farces like it. Though I shouldn't prejudge the result.

gawain

In a message from Darren Paterson, South Dorset Chairman fronm just past midnight...

80 voted
72 For
8 Against

24% turnout

90% in favour of the referendum - an overwhelming win and the start of bigger things to come!!!!!

So congratulations to Darren, John Barnes, Trevor Coleman and everybody involved in CARP.

According to HMG there are 10397 parishes out there in England alone. So would it not be fun to set a few more of these things going?

ANGLO-STAFFS

90% In favour, what a surprise after all the publicity, which may help UKIP, though judging by last nights two results!!!
The 10 sponsors of the referendum (I assume that any councillors involved actually live in the parish) managed to get 62 other residents of the parish (pop approx 330) to support them.
i.e. about 21% of the parish residents supported the motion 79% did not.

I am pleased that the ratepayers do not have to foot the bill, because at over £6 per vote it is a bit pricey.

So all we need now is 10,396 other people with £500 to spare and we can all have a great time.
Oops, no we can't because I don't think that many of the Millions of people living in the cities and MBC areas have parish councils.

gimlet

Well done to all involved. Excellant result, and no surprise!