HARLOW: Tony Benn backs town's referendum vote
8:32am Friday 22nd February 2008
HARLOW campaigners fighting for a national referendum on joining the Lisbon Treaty have been given a boost by political legend Tony Benn.
I want a referendum' campaigner Colleen Morrison contacted Mr Benn to ask for his support.
The Harlow constituency, which includes Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering, is one of nationally chosen to have a vote to say whether Britain should join the new Euro Treaty. The agreement would see basic changes in the way law is handled in the UK, with more decisions being made in central Europe.
Its supporters believe the treaty is a chance to strengthen Britain's economy, while critics say it could lead to a united states of Europe style leadership.
Mr Benn, in a letter to Mrs Morrison, congratulated her on securing the vote for local residents and said he would be writing to MPs to ask them to join the cause.
Mr Benn, Labour's second longest-serving MP and former Industry and Energy Secretary, said that to deny the rest of Britain a national referendum was "a scandal" and added he was throwing his full political weight behind it.
Prospective Conservative candidate Robert Halfon,has also thrown down the gauntlet to MP Bill Rammell and asked for an open public debate on the issues surrounding the vote.
He said: "I'm pleased the campaign has the backing of Tony Benn. Although he has different views to me on most issues he is an honest and principled politician and rightly agrees Harlow voters should have a referendum on the EU Constitution.
He added; "Tony Benn's backing, alongside that of Derek Scott (Tony Blair's chief economic adviser), shows how misleading Mr Rammell's claims are that the Harlow EU referendum campaign is just a Conservative campaign.
"I challenge Mr Rammell to an open debate, anywhere any time, any place so Harlow voters have the chance to debate the EU Constitution and the failure of the Government to offer an Referendum as promised in their manifesto".
When the Citizen asked Mr Rammell for a response to the challenge he said: "I also welcome open and honest debate and to this end I will be taking part in a debate on the EU Treaty referendum on February 28, at the Churchgate Hotel, Harlow. Mr Halfon, is of course, welcome to attend.
"I understand that Tony Benn has spoken out in favour of a UK-wide referendum, which of course he has every right to do. I don't see however how this translates to personal and specific endorsement to the Harlow EU referendum campaign', a ballot which is financed with private money, has no statutory legitimacy and fails even to consult with all Harlow residents. A ballot like this must cost over £40,000. Where has money on this scale come from?"
He added: "Whilst there has been big press campaign run by foreign media owners on this issue, very few constituents have raised the EU Treaty with me. I will be concentrating on the issues which matter to people in Harlow - jobs, housing, health, crime and education."