MEDIA RELEASE
5 March 2008

Embargo: none

SEVEN LIB DEM FRONT-BENCHERS CONFRONT CLEGG OVER
EU REFERENDUM VOTE

KEY POINTS

Nick Clegg's threat to sack members of his front-bench team who defy his policy on an EU referendum lay in tatters last night, as it emerged that at least seven of them intend to support calls for a public vote on the Lisbon Treaty.

With little likelihood of Clegg undertaking mass sackings on that scale being very low, the revelation effectively grants all Lib Dem MPs a free vote in today's debate in Parliament on the referendum question.

Posts at stake include those of shadow Defence secretary, Justice secretary, Health and Countryside spokespeople and half of Nick Clegg's shadow Treasury ministerial team.

Martin Horwood, a shadow DEFRA minister, is the latest Lib Dem front-bencher to confirm that he will support the call for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

In a response to constituents raising the referendum issue with him, Mr Horwood said: "As you may also be aware from the media, there is another amendment supported by the Conservatives to introduce a referendum just on the treaty itself, rather than on membership of the European Union ... I am nevertheless inclined to support this referendum amendment too, in the spirit of our manifesto promise for a vote on the ratification of the earlier Constitution."

Sandra Gidley, a shadow health minister, yesterday confirmed that she will also defy her party's leadership and support a Treaty referendum.

In what could be read as a barbed attack on her party's policy on the issue, she said in a letter to a constituent "I will not use semantics to wriggle out of a promise ... I intend to support the call for a referendum."

Fellow front-benchers David Heath, Nick Harvey, Tim Farron, Colin Breed and John Pugh have already confirmed that they will stand by their election pledges and support a referendum on the EU Treaty.

If Martin Horwood is sacked along with Countryside spokesman Tim Farron, that would additionally leave Clegg with only half his shadow DEFRA ministry team in place.

The MPs' stance has been exposed by letters they have sent to their constituents, which have been obtained by the ReferendumList.com campaign website.

The news comes as the Democracy Movement - the eurosceptic pressure group behind ReferendumList.com - announced the launch of an 'Integrity Fund' to finance local campaigning in marginal constituencies in the run up to the next election.

The fund will target MPs of all parties who vote against the referendum they promised at the last election.

Stuart Coster, director of the Democracy Movement, said:

88 MPs, including 18 Liberal Democrats, who declare they will vote against a Treaty referendum are holding on to their seats by under 3,500 votes, making them highly vulnerable to a public backlash over their refusal to give local voters a say.

Stuart Coster added:

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REFERENDUM QUOTES BY LIB DEM FRONT-BENCHERS:

David Heath (shadow Justice secretary) said: "A vote on the narrower issue of the Lisbon Treaty would be very much second best, but I intend to vote for it, as I promised, and I have warned my whips I will do so."

Nick Harvey (shadow Defence secretary) said: "The similarities between the Reform Treaty and the proposed EU constitution clearly outweigh the differences. Yes I do personally support a referendum."

Tim Farron (shadow Countryside minister) said: "As it happens I do believe that the Government should be held to account for its failure to uphold the manifesto pledge and I will vote for a referendum, if the motion can be put to the House."

Colin Breed (shadow Treasury minister) said: "At the present time I would support a referendum on the proposed European Treaty."

John Pugh (shadow Treasury minister) said: "I think there is currently a danger of Europe seeming to be run by a political elite, with the public across Europe feeling disempowered and alienated."

Sandra Gidley (shadow Health minister) said: "I will not use semantics to wriggle out of a promise ... I intend to support the call for a referendum."

Martin Horwood (shadow DEFRA minister) said: "As you may also be aware from the media, there is another amendment supported by the Conservatives to introduce a referendum just on the treaty itself, rather than on membership of the European Union ... I am nevertheless inclined to support this referendum amendment too, in the spirit of our manifesto promise for a vote on the ratification of the earlier Constitution."