East Midlands for a Referendum
GEDLING VOTERS DEMAND NATIONAL REFERENDUM ON REVIVED EU CONSTITUTION
I Want a Referendum has announced the results of the EU referendum held in Gedling and nine other constituencies across the country.
The referendums have been carried out for IWR by Electoral Reform Services – a leading firm of independent election scrutineers recognised by the United Nations, the British Government, and used by all the three main parties for their internal elections.
The referendums have led to an unprecedented response from voters for an unofficial poll. Postal ballots were sent to nearly 40,290 people in the Redditch constituency. 39.3% of ballot papers distributed were returned.
Key Results
Stunningly, 152,520 people voted across just ten parliamentary constituencies. 133,251 voted for a referendum.
24,726 people voted in Gedling, of whom 21,805 are in favour of a referendum – 88.2%.
Even though the poll was unofficial, the 36.2% turnout means that a higher proportion of people voted in these unofficial referendums than in real elections in their local area. In Pudsey 39.3% of voters who were sent ballot papers responded. The average turnout for local elections (when not held with general elections) since 1996 is 35.4%. The average turnout in referendums on directly elected mayors - including in London - was 30.1%.
In Gedling, a greater proportion of people voted for a referendum than voted for sitting MP Vernon Coaker at the last election. 41.5% of those balloted in Redditch voted for a referendum, while Vernon Coaker won 29.7% of the vote. This means that more people actually voted for a referendum in the poll (21,805) than voted for Vernon Coaker (20,329) in the last election.
Voters in Gedling resoundingly rejected the EU's Lisbon Treaty. 22,096 people voted against it – 89.4% of those responding.
A local campaigner signs up a new supporter in front of the giant ballot box at the launch of the Gedling referendum campaign.
SUPPORTERS
IWR currently has 5259 supporters in the East midlands.
Chairman
Neville Baxter
E-mail: neville.baxter@rh-freight.co.uk.
Press Officer
Duncan Hopwood
E-mail: duncan@hopwood.co.uk.
Phone: 0116 254 44 72
EVENTS
On December 7, the giant ballot box was inflated on the riverside of Trent in Nottingham, marking the launch of the East Midlands for a Referendum campaign. IWR national Chairman Derek Scott was joined by regional supporters, giving interviews to regional and local media teams. East Midlands co-chairman Neville Baxter appeared on the BBC East Midlands Today on the lunchtime and evening bulletins. Nottingham Evening Post quoted Neville Baxter as saying, "If [Gordon Brown] believes it is a good thing for Britain then he should trust the people to make the decision in a referendum. The British people care about their country and they want their country to remain a democracy run from Westminster not Brussels."
EAST MIDLANDS FOR A REFERENDUM IN THE NEWS
East Midlands for a Referendum has recieved widespread media coverage. Below is a selection:
“Gedling:
“Lisbon Treaty vote” BBC Politics Show East Midlands 10 February
“Your comments on EU Treaty Vote” BBC Politics Show East Midlands 10 February
“Lisbon Treaty vote” BBC Politics Show East midlands 7 February
“Campaigners want EU treaty vote” BBC East Midlands 7 February
“Does the Notts public care about
“70,000 in Euro vote” Nottingham Evening Post 24 January
“Campaign for EU referendum” Nottingham Evening News 10 December
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I want a referendum because I believe in democracy.
