Mike Penning condemns MPs for voting against their manifestos to avoid referendum
7th March 2008
Mike Penning has condemned MPs who voted against their manifesto pledge in order to avoid a referendum on the EU Treaty
Hemel Hempstead MP, Mike Penning, has criticised Labour MPs who voted against their manifesto pledges in Wednesday night’s historic votes to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution – which has been repackaged as the Lisbon Treaty.
All three main parties promised a referendum on the EU treaty.
Speaking afterwards he said:
“I voted for a referendum on the EU Treaty. It is wrong for any government to give away powers without consulting the people. I am particularly concerned that we could lose our national veto on a wide range of issues as a result of this - without the need for any further treaty.
“The fact that Labour and the Liberal Democrats have broken their promise to support a referendum on this issue undermines the public’s trust in politicians and the whole political system.
“Their argument that the treaty and the constitution are fundamentally different doesn’t stand up – as in many other EU countries their leaders are selling them as being the same thing!”
