BOURNEMOUTH West MP Conor Burns has become the first member of the government to back calls for a referendum on Britain’s relationship with the EU.
Mr Burns – who was already expecting to lose his government job over his opposition to House of Lords reform – has broken ranks a second time by writing to David Cameron urging the referendum.
Mr Burns acknowledged that voting against proposed reforms to the House of Lords would lead to his resignation or sacking from the post of parliamentary private secretary to the Northern Ireland secretary.
He Tweeted yesterday that he had delivered a letter to the Conservatives’ chief whip, “putting my position as a PPS at his and the PM's disposal”.
Mr Burns also revealed he had written to Mr Cameron urging a referendum on Britain’s relationship with the EU, which he said “meddles too much in our ordinary lives and has changed fundamentally from the institution the UK joined in 1973”.
He told the Prime Minister: “My own view is that if we were to introduce legislation in this Parliament to have a binding referendum in the next Parliament, this would significantly strengthen your negotiating hand in discussions with your fellow heads of government within the EU.”
Mr Burns has signed the People’s Pledge, part of a campaign demanding a referendum.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel