Village to stage referendum on treaty

Villagers in Dorset are using part of UK legislation to stage a referendum on the EU Treaty.

Demands for a national ballot on the treaty have been refused by ministers.

However, campaign group Carp has used a part of the Local Government Act to stage a parish poll in East Stoke, near Wareham, next Thursday.

The outcome would not have any formal impact on government policy, but the group's aim is to increase pressure on ministers to hold a national vote.

In East Stoke, 339 voters will be asked to vote yes or no to the question, "Do you want a referendum on the EU Constitutional Treaty?"

I hope this goes well. The more pressure put on Gordon Brown the better. I hope some organisation finds the funds to stage a country wide poll so even more pressure is put on Brown.

Even if those villagers vote that they want an EU referendum we probably won’t get one and knowing Nu Labour they will probably punish them as much as possible by taking funds from their village and putting it elsewhere.