SOUTH BASILDON and East Thurrock MP, Stephen Metcalfe has slammed Baroness Smith of Basildon for voting against a referendum bill.
In November, the majority of Members of Parliament voted to make it law that a simple In/Out EU referendum was held before the end of 2017.
Following this historic vote the legislation passed to the House of Lords.
The majority of unelected Peers voted against the bill.
Stephen Metcalfe MP said: “This is completely undemocratic! The will of the House of Commons could not have been clearer, for Labour and the Lib Dems to scupper this bill is a slap in the face for the people of Basildon and Thurrock”
“My colleagues and I will do all we can to get this Bill debate again and brought in to law before the next General Election.”
Stephen added: “This is really an issue of trust. We trust the people to decide, while Labour, including my predecessor don’t! The people can draw their own conclusions why that might be.”
Cllr Tony Ball, Leader of Basildon Council said; “Baroness Smith needs to explain to the people of Basildon why she doesn’t trust them by voting to deny them the right to have a vote on Britain’s future in a referendum.”
“I assume she cast her vote with the full support of the Basildon Labour Party who also need to explain why they don’t trust local people”.
