It’s an exciting day for the People’s Pledge today. Following on from the successful result in Thurrock this past April, we are announcing our next set of local EU referendum votes, all of which will be held on the same day and spanning three conjoining constituencies – an escalation which will see the polling of roughly 130,000 voters. The seats that have been selected are Cheadle, Hazel Grove and Manchester Withington, all three with an incumbent Liberal Democrat MP. For those of you not aware of the result in Thurrock or our campaign’s in general, let me give you a little refresher.
The People’s Pledge is a cross party campaign for an EU referendum; it has nearly 110,000 supporters nation-wide and is one of Britain’s largest single issue pressure groups. The aim of the campaign is to return a majority of pro-referendum MPs in the next parliament all of whom “pledge” [on paper and video] to vote for a referendum at the next available opportunity. We already have 69 MPs supporting the campaign, including Natascha Engel MP (Chair of the influential Backbench Business Committee), Keith Vaz MP (Former Europe Minister) and Jon Cruddas (Labour’s new policy chief). The Pledge was supported by the candidates that finished first and third in the London Mayoral race – Boris Johnson and the Green party candidate Jenny Jones. Boris’ signing of the Pledge was described by the Spectator’s political editor James Forsyth as a key moment in the history of the Conservative party — the moment when the party’s balance of power tipped decisively in favour of a referendum.
Without a doubt the success of the campaigns first referendum in Thurrock has played a part in building the recent momentum towards an in/out referendum, and looking at the current atmospherics a referendum seems inevitable; not ‘if’ but ‘when’. In order to understand the sheer scale of the task ahead, it is worth understanding what was achieved in Thurrock. When we began the campaign we had no canvassing data, no local base, few listed supporters, the MP and rival PPC were against an In/out referendum, and we were unsure of how we would be received locally. Over the seven week period we knocked on 46,000 doors, set up a local office, signed up nearly 11,000 people to the Pledge and received the support of the local Labour councillors. The results themselves were overwhelming. Nearly 15,000 people took part, with 90% voting that “voters should be given a national referendum on UK membership of the European Union”. The turnout was 30.4% - quite significant considering this was not a legally binding referendum. Only some weeks later after the local elections results were announced did we really grasp the significance of what we had achieved. In the Thurrock constituency the council elections had an average turnout of 24.6% - in many wards more people signed the Pledge and subsequently voted for a referendum than voted for the winning local candidates. I will keep speculation on this point to a minimum, but without a doubt we were able to motivate more people to vote on this issue than many “experts” and pundits had predicted. A high single figure turnout – with the polling day on the Thursday before Easter- was to their minds “the most we could hope for”.
Now with the announcement that we are running three simultaneous referendums there will come equal if not increased pressure – quite simply, this has never been done before. I intend this campaign diary to be less of a 'how to' and more of a record of events. You will not find endless arguments about the need for a referendum; our case on our website is there for anyone who wants to read it. I hope this diary will instead provide broader analysis of political and local campaigning - in equal measures. The success of the People’s Pledge is imperative to furthering the case for an EU referendum. The strength of our campaign team and the grassroots Pledge concept has given the fight for an EU referendum serious traction for the first time in years, and we look forward to taking that fight to the people, as it is well past time for this debate to move beyond the political class and out into the public domain.
Comments
Anthony Barber / May 19 2012 12:49pm
Keep up the good work, I know the majority of working class people agree we need a in-out referendum,not some shilly, shally change to Europe rules, there;s far too many migrants coming to this country,dont let the Euro -philes tell us we need them in these numbers, what about our young people needing jobs, we are not racist, I cant blame them coming here if they think its a better future for them, but I can blame the Labour party , the liberals in fact the three main politicos.you only have to look at our over crowded roads and here we are encourageing more to come here.Lets get ourselves out of Europe and suffer the consequences,we will cope, regards Tony Barber
Ernest Mundy / May 19 2012 1:18pm
Initially I said you were beating your heads against the wall but things have changed considerably. It was stated that leaving the EU would destroy our economy. We have seen that destroyed and we are now told that if Greece leaves it will mean disaster for the whole of Europe & the world. We are told that Europe is our biggest trading partner and 40% of our exports go to them, but figures show we buy more from them than they do from us. It means that leving Europe at this time will do us no more harm than staying in but it would save us £16 Billion a year. I am, and always have been, a supporter of a referendum so keep up the good work
Tommy Cullen / May 19 2012 1:55pm
We need this campaign to extend to the North East.
Tony Soley / May 19 2012 3:17pm
At the present time i would vote Labour in a general election if they promised a referendum on "in or out of the EU"
I have never voted Labour before & I know that they would waste & squander money. But, They would waste & squander money on our Country & not on unelected morons in other Countries who don't know what they are doing.
Mrs. P. Budden / May 19 2012 4:18pm
Well done to The Peoples' Pledge. It is high time that the British people stood up and warned all MP's that unless they listened to their electorate and acted accordingly they would soon be out of a job, regardless of their Party.
As a Pensioner I have seen this once proud Nation who won, against all the odds, Two World Wars by standing up for what was right, be slowly dragged down into the pitiful state it is in now!!
We have become the laughing stock of the World because, over the last 30 years or so, we have been without any strong patriotic Government to fight FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE BRITISH PEOPLE!!
I am in regular touch with my MP pointing out how pathetic the MP's of all Parties are and suggesting that they all find a backbone and finally start doing the job they were paid and elected to do. There first priority is, and should always be their own people - The British People. Unfortunately it would appear that we are at the bottom of the pile behind terroists, illegal immigrants, criminals and any other waifs and strays who just walk into our Country with some sob story or other and are handed out everything on a plate!! If a parent treated their child like that in favour of some other unrelated child, they would be in Court for neglect!!
That is precisely what our recents Governments have been guilty of i.e. Neglecting the human, and other rights of their own Countrymen and it has to stop.
We pay their salaries. We also pay for the NHS for our own people not for any Tom Dick or Harry who has never contributed a penny to this Country. If they want medical treatment then they will have to pay for it. We do not pay Tax to pay Benefits to foreigners and so called asylum seekers!! Nor to pay for interpreters for foreign nationals who cannot speak our language. Let them go away and learn English.
While this pathetic lot in Westminster are falling over themselves to try and be best mates with Angela Merkel and Sarkosy and keep well in they are ignoring their own people.
jake / May 19 2012 7:35pm
I fervently hope that the next 3 are as successful, or more so, than Thurrock.
It may be that events in europe overtake the campaign but I doubt it given the tenacious grip on power and dedication to 'the project' that the EU has.
They remind me of Lampreys.
Mike FG Boissé / May 20 2012 12:56pm
Fantastic result at Thurrock, and good luck with all your asperations for the next three EU referendum campaigns.
You are doing the right thing for our country, our politicians should be ashamed of themselves, and in the not to distant future, they will be held to account for their lies and prevarications with regards to our membership of the EU.
Best wishes and thanks to you all. Mike.
David Clarke / May 21 2012 1:02pm
I can't imagine the Labour Party keeping a promise to have a referendum on the EU IN/OUT. Too many M/P/s of all colours and none have vested interests in the EU. Money for agriculture, for business interests, for trade union interests, lobbying, the list is endless. Our best chance of a referendum will come when M.P.s realise that they will lose their seat and therefore their access to the trough. My local M.P. is so pro EU (a Farmer) that he votes for every nutty plan they have. Find a candidate who supports the referendum, vote for them whether this leads to a hung Parliament or whatever. Get a majority of pro referendum M.P.s in. We have more to gain financially and nationally from this strategy than continuing to vote for the same old numbties.
Len Heath / May 21 2012 3:49pm
Well said, Mrs. Budden....!!
Ray Bowyer / May 21 2012 9:40pm
I think it is time to realise a few things. Politicians do not run this country. Politics is a huge puppet show to keep us, the people away from the real story of who is running things. If the power that run the government back all sides in an election, then the powers that be i.e. the owners of the world's banks, media and corporations will still be in power no matter who wins. The Government is, after all, always in power.
The Europe project has been put in place to get rid of all member country's sovereignty and place it in the hands of six European commissioners to continue the system started by Herr Herman Goering in Berlin in 1940. (Yes 1940!). The same Nazi's were still running the European union after the Second World War and I would suggest that legacy is still very much intact. They lost a military war, so continue the fight financially.
The People's Pledge will face more and more opposition from above-government power as it appears to become a threat to the European Project.. Main stream media will not report the facts. Infiltration will be attempted. Members will be criticized and vilified by the press and BBC etc. under orders from the above powers, similar to David Icke. However if the People really get behind the withdrawal from Europe, this will be a first step to destroying their hold over us, the People.
Keep up the pressure, and remember that a politician will say pretty much anything to get elected. Be absolutely certain that they really do do what they have pledged to do. Do your best to reclaim our sovereignty and good luck.
Ray.
Cllr Kerry Allon / May 21 2012 11:33pm
Congratulations and many many thanks for the great campaign and victory so far ! Good luck with he upcoming referendums too.
As a Nation it is only right that we choose NOW what the future may hold, most specially in such times of economic uncertainty
This is a non Political movement which I applaud , however as a Conservative Councillor in the London Borough of Bexley , I personally give my unreserved and wholehearted support to your campaign for a National referendum.
On a more personalised note, WHEN our Government realise there is no other option , let's vote in huge numbers a resounding NO TO EUROPE , NO TO MESSING With our Finances, Politics, Community, Identity ....as soon as is practically possible let's get OUT of this European mess and regain our Sovreignty as the Great British Nation that we always were and still are
Onc again - well done so far ! Please keep up the momentum for us and our future generations .
Peter Barrie / May 22 2012 11:33am
Keep up the good work. I saw the campaign on TV on Sunday on the BBC. I wish my MP Geoffrey Cox would sign up. I see that many others in the area have. We need a referendum asap.
Sue Newman / May 22 2012 12:34pm
I am so thrilled that this is happening. I have been called Xenophobic, unrealistic, and many more patronising terms for holding the view that we would be better off out of Europe. The EU is not what we signed up for many years ago and it is spiralling out of control with it's refusal to acknowledge what a huge mistake the Euro currency was and is. At last there is light at the end of the tunnel and hope that Great Britain can once again be the successful independent country it used to be.
Richard Barrell / May 25 2012 10:55am
Well done at Thurrock. I pray that our next campaign will also be a huge success. Eventually the people will be listened to. In the last elections I voted UKIP instead of Conservative and will keep doing so until Cameron has the courage to listen to the people and give us our promised referendum. Power to the People's Pledge from Richard
Gerald Pleydell / June 18 2012 6:58pm
Good luck in the next 3 elections in Manchester. Wish I could help out but live in East Devon. I do hope that all 3 elections have a great turn out and beat the great win in Thurrock, than maybe we can shout louder at the various parties that do not wish us to have a referendum.
Would it not be best to invite UKIP to be involved with the People Pledge? Not sure if your supporters are aware but you can see on the Internet speeches on video made by Nigel Farage (not sure if his name is spelt correctly) and other members of UKIP and boy do they give them euro members what they think of them and everything they say is correct. This is only a suggestion but worth while investigating just incase UKIP supporters do not turn out for the People Pledge.
Good luck and please let us know as soon as possible when the elections take place.
G. Pleydell