Huhne challenges 'referendum' campaigners to ask real question

12.00.00am GMT Fri 8th Feb 2008

Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh, Chris Huhne, today challenged campaigners for an EU referendum to allow residents to vote on a question of being in or out of the EU, rather than the limited Tory question on having a referendum only on the reform treaty.

Mr Huhne's Eastleigh constituency is one of ten areas targeted by the I want a referendum campaign for a postal ballot. The ballot asks local residents whether they would like a national referendum on the EU reform treaty, and how they would vote.

Commenting, Mr Huhne said:

"This campaign has chosen only to promote the Tories' preferred question for a referendum.

"They should ask my constituents whether they want a real referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union, and they should ask that question in Conservative constituencies too.

"There is no practical or financial impediment to putting a fair question as well as the fake Tory question. If they refuse, my constituents will be entitled to conclude that this so-called' cross-party campaign' is afraid to ask the real question and they will draw the conclusion that this is just a Tory front organisation."