IN last week’s historic debate on holding a referendum on our future relationship with Europe, Stephen Metcalfe, local Member of Parliament for South Basildon and East Thurrock said: “I congratulate my Hon. Friend on bringing forward this Bill. Does he agree that at its heart lies the issue of trust? That is what this is about. The Parties that trust the British people will support this, and the Parties that do not trust the British people will not support it.”
In response, the promoter of the Bill, James Wharton MP replied: “My Hon. Friend is absolutely right. As I have said, I do not mind whether people want to campaign to be in or out. I do not seek to influence in this debate or in this Bill how the British people might vote. I believe that we must give them a say.”
However, Stephen has expressed concern that Labour are determined to deny people the opportunity to have their say and refuse to trust the British people to make an informed and intelligent decision.
Stephen said: “Labour’s official policy is to oppose the Bill which is concerning enough; what is really worrying is that they have also refused to rule out reversing the decision to hold a referendum by repealing the Bill if it passes in to law, if they are in Government after the next election.”
He continued: “So I challenge Labour, locally, here in Basildon and Thurrock, to come clean and say whether they trust the people to make an informed decision. I want to know whether they back the Bill, or if they are following their Party line. If they are following Ed Milliband’s instructions, can they tell the people of South Basildon and East Thurrock why they don’t trust them.”
