News Articles
Apr 17, 2012
Streeter calls for Referendum Day
South West Devon MP Gary Streeter today called for the people of this country to be consulted about the huge constitutional changes being prepared in the Queen’s Speech. In particular he wants to see a referendum on House of Lords reform and whether or not we continue to be members of the European Union.
On House of Lords reform he says:
“Transforming the House of Lords into a directly elected chamber full of politicians is a huge constitutional shift in our nation’s history and the people should have a say on that. Once Parliament has settled on what the reforms look like over the next year, the final package should be put to the country for acceptance or rejection. I am proposing to vote against these reforms, but the final say should be that of my constituents.”
On European membership he says:
“Over the next 12 months or so the shape of the new Europe will become clearer once the euro-Zone challenges have started to work their way through. It is quite likely that the EU will evolve into two units, firstly a more integrated euro zone core, probably without some of the southern Mediterranean states that are broke, and secondly a looser tier of less integrated states including the UK. The people of this country should have their say on whether we should continue to be part of that re-shaped EU. More and more of us are unhappy about the performance of the EU and it is time this matter was settled, again by the people of this nation.”
The MP believes that if both of these referendums were held on the same day as the people of Scotland vote on independence in 2013 or 2014, turnout would be high and the future shape of our constitution would be settled for a generation. “This would become Referendum Day,” says Mr Streeter, “and the build up to it would engender a lively and helpful debate.”
“I don’t believe in referendums every five minutes,” Gary Streeter says, “but given that we held one last year over a proposed change in the voting system, I do not see how the significant constitutional change to the way we run our country should not also be put to the people.”
The South West Devon MP intends to make these points at Westminster in the debate that will follow the Queen’s Speech on 9th May.
On House of Lords reform he says:
“Transforming the House of Lords into a directly elected chamber full of politicians is a huge constitutional shift in our nation’s history and the people should have a say on that. Once Parliament has settled on what the reforms look like over the next year, the final package should be put to the country for acceptance or rejection. I am proposing to vote against these reforms, but the final say should be that of my constituents.”
On European membership he says:
“Over the next 12 months or so the shape of the new Europe will become clearer once the euro-Zone challenges have started to work their way through. It is quite likely that the EU will evolve into two units, firstly a more integrated euro zone core, probably without some of the southern Mediterranean states that are broke, and secondly a looser tier of less integrated states including the UK. The people of this country should have their say on whether we should continue to be part of that re-shaped EU. More and more of us are unhappy about the performance of the EU and it is time this matter was settled, again by the people of this nation.”
The MP believes that if both of these referendums were held on the same day as the people of Scotland vote on independence in 2013 or 2014, turnout would be high and the future shape of our constitution would be settled for a generation. “This would become Referendum Day,” says Mr Streeter, “and the build up to it would engender a lively and helpful debate.”
“I don’t believe in referendums every five minutes,” Gary Streeter says, “but given that we held one last year over a proposed change in the voting system, I do not see how the significant constitutional change to the way we run our country should not also be put to the people.”
The South West Devon MP intends to make these points at Westminster in the debate that will follow the Queen’s Speech on 9th May.
