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MEDIA
RELEASE
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| 15th
October 2003 |
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NEW
POLL SHOWS OVERWHELMING MAJORITY WANT
EU CONSTITUTION REFERENDUM
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| A
new poll published today shows that 75%
of people want a referendum on the EU Constitution. |
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| The
poll, conducted by YouGov for the people's campaign for a referendum on
the European Constitution, Referendum04, also revealed that only
10% would vote for
the European Constitution were there to be a referendum and that
45% of people remain undecided on the issue but want to see a
full public debate. |
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| Crucially
for Tony Blair, support for a referendum is also strong among Labour voters.
Results show that 60% of Labour voters
want the question of the European Constitution decided by a referendum,
and if there were to be a referendum 50%
of Labour voters want the facts about the European Constitution debated
in full. |
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| Only
17% of Labour voters are currently in
favour of adopting the European Constitution and 60%
would support a campaign consisting of a mixture of politicians and non-politicians.
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| Growing
public support for a referendum, particularly within their key constituency
of support will concern the Government as it tries to fend off demands to
hold one. The disparity between, on the one hand, Tony Blair's militantly
expressed opposition to a referendum and, on the other, the fact that Labour
voters by more than 2:1 want a vote will apply increasing pressure to the
Prime Minister and his continued refusal to put the matter before the people.
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clear fact that an overwhelming majority of all party affiliations want
a vote also serves to undermine Blair's claim that only 'right-wing' elements
believe the people should decide on this issue. |
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| In
addition, the poll shows that people feel any campaign prior to the referendum
should not be dominated by partisan politics. It's not just a demand for
a chance to say 'no' or 'yes', but reflects a real desire for debate and
information. Referendum04 will be instrumental in making this happen. |
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| Even
among the notoriously politically insensitve youth a majority (67%)
are in favour of a referendum on this topic. It is an important point that
nobody under 46 has been consulted about our relationship with the European
Union and Referendum04 will be making this a major theme of its campaign.
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| Referendum04's
position - that the campaign for a referendum should not be party driven,
nor driven solely by politicians, but should be a broad umbrella coalition
of society with one aim - to force the Government to concede a referendum
- is a stance backed by 68% of people,
this poll shows. |
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| Neil
Herron, Campaign Director for Referendum04 said: |
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" Tony Blair
is being backed into an impossible position. For his party, which made
no reference to the Constitution in its manifesto, it will become increasingly
difficult at constituency level for his MP's to agree with his stance.
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"Referendum04's
support is coming from MPs and voters from all parties as the YouGov
poll confirms, and as their voice becomes louder along with that of
the man in the street, the demand - and it is a demand, not a request
- will become impossible for the Prime Minister to refuse.
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"The
issue, as can be seen from the poll results, has grasped the public's
attention as very few are not interested in the issue, and they are
determined that their voice will be heard.
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"Blair
is out of touch with the younger generation. This constitution was drawn
up by a group of predominantly elderly political hacks, including the
corrupt and disgraced Giscard d'Estaing, who had no democratic mandate
whatsoever. Yet Blair is planning to impose this constitution on the
young without their consent.
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"Calls
to Referendum04's campaign office, Tel. 0871 700 2004 offering financial,
moral and practical support show that the fuse is well and truly lit.
People will be queueing this week end to sign the petition and get involved.
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"Should
Blair continue to ignore the elephant in the room he may well be trampled
in the stampede."
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| The
YouGov poll was conducted on 9-10th 0ctober 2003 - the weighted sample size
was just below 2000. |
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| <Ends> |
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| CONTACT |
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| Referendum04:
Neil Herron, Campaign Director |
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| Tel.
0191 565 2004 Mob. 07776 202045 |
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| E-mail
mail@referendum04.co.uk |
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| YouGov:
Mark Hodson, Market Research Manager |
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Tel: 020 7618 3010 Direct line: 020 7618 3022 |
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| E-mail:
mark.hodson@yougov.com |
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| NOTES |
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| 1.
Headline figures for the three question poll are shown below |
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Q1. The Government
is proposing to sign up to a new European Constitution. Some people
say this will affect the way we and future generations are governed.
Others say it is just a “tidying up” exercise. Some European Countries
are holding referenda on the issue; in other countries, national parliaments
will decide whether or not to accept the new constitution. How should
the issue be decided in Britain?
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by a referendum 75%
- by Parliament 15%
- don’t know 10%
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Q2.
If there were to be a referendum would your position be...
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- opposed to Britain
adopting the European Constitution 35%
- in favour of Britain adopting the European Constitution 10%
- undecided at present but want to have the facts about the European
Constitution debated in full 45%
- undecided at present and not greatly interested in the issue 5%
-don’t know 5%
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Q3. If there is
a campaign to call for a referendum, which kind of campaign would be
most likely to attract your support – a campaign to be led by politicians,
or by non-politicians, or by a mixture of politicians and non-politicians?
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- politicians
3%
- non-politicians 7%
- mixture of politicians and non-politicians 68%
- I would not support such a campaign whoever led it 9%
- don’t know 13%
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Click here
to view full results of the YouGov poll (Excel file)
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| 2.
Quotes on the poll from Referendum04 associated groups |
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| Stuart
Coster, campaign manager for the non-party Democracy Movement said: |
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"This poll
shows that people want to see a grown-up debate. It’s time for our government
to emulate the honesty of their colleagues in other EU member states
and stop trying to play down the importance of the EU Constitution to
the way we are governed."
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| Annunziata
Rees-Mogg of Trust the People - a campaign for a referendum aimed at people
who were not old enough to vote in 1975 - said: |
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"These
figures show that the young people are interested in politics and in
having their say. People under 46 have never been consulted on Europe
and demand a right to be heard."
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| 3.
Referendum04 is a nationwide 'People's Campaign' calling for a referendum
on the proposed European Constitution. It is supported by a mix from across
the socio-political spectrum, and its grass roots network is growing daily,
with over 150 active networks already established. |
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| 4.
Phase 1 of the Campaign is the rolling petition which is being co-ordinated
across the country by organisations, associations and individuals. Completed
petition forms are already flooding into the office in Sunderland and many
groups are hitting towns and cities signature gathering this Saturday 18th
October, in the first of many 'D Days.' |
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