By Martin Banks - 28th April 2009
Where you stand on the referendum says a lot about your politics
David Cameron
British Tories have launched a launched a new campaign demanding the UK government honours its manifesto commitment to hold a referendum on the stalled Lisbon treaty.
The move comes ahead of June's European elections, which pollsters predict will see heavy losses for UK premier Gordon Brown's Labour party.
Speaking on Monday, UK Tory leader David Cameron pointed to Labour's 2005 manifesto, which said: "The new constitutional treaty ensures the new Europe can work effectively.
"We will put it to the British people in a referendum."
Cameron has now put the treaty issue at the top of his party's agenda for the elections.
He said, "The Conservative party is launching a new poster and internet campaign calling for an 'EU-turn' on Brown's broken promise to give the British people a referendum on the European constitution – now re-branded as the Lisbon treaty.
"Gordon Brown's flip-flopped on this before. First he was against the constitution, then he was for it; one day he promised a referendum, the next he backtracked.
"While he has chopped and changed, our position has remained exactly the same. We are the only major party to have consistently said that it is up to the British people to decide on our future in Europe.
"That's why we have pledged that if the constitution is not in force in the event of the election of a Conservative government this year or next, we will hold a referendum on it, urge a no vote, and – if successful – reverse Britain's ratification.
"Where you stand on the referendum says a lot about your politics. It says a lot about how much you value trust between the government and the governed.
"I believe that if you make a promise in your manifesto, and the country votes on that manifesto, then you are honour-bound to keep that promise."
The campaign is backed by Tory MEP Roger Helmer, who said: "All main political parties promised the public a vote on whether we hand over more powers to the EU; but only the Conservatives have kept their promise.
"The Lisbon treaty is significant because it fundamentally alters the way in which we are governed. Not only would the EU have a president and foreign minister, it would also have a legal personality enabling it to sign treaties.
"This campaign is important. It is about giving people a voice over the way they are governed and maintaining trust between politicians and the electorate.
"If elected PM, Cameron will rightly hold a referendum on the treaty if it is not already in force. However we should also continue to put pressure on Gordon Brown to hold one now."
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