I Want a Referendum - North West
BOLTON VOTERS DEMAND REFERENDUM ON REVIVED EU CONSTITUTION
I Want a Referendum has announced the results of the EU referendum held in Bolton 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 49,923 people in the Bolton constituency. 35.9% of ballot papers distributed were returned.
Key Results
Stunningly, 152,520 people voted across just ten parliamentary constituencies. 133,251 voted for a referendum.
17,034 people voted in Bolton, of whom 15,801 are in favour of a referendum – 88.1%.
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 Bolton, a greater proportion of people voted for a referendum than voted for sitting MP Ruth Kelly at the last election. 31.7% of those balloted in Bolton West voted for a referendum, while Ruth Kelly won 27 % of the vote.
Voters in Bolton resoundingly rejected the EU's Lisbon Treaty. 15,750 people voted against it – 87.8% of those responding.
SUPPORTERS
IWR currently has 3649 supporters in the North West.
Chairman
Alan Halsall - Chairman, Silver Cross Ltd
Press officer
Ben Pinnington, Artemis Media & Public Affairs
Mobile: 07887 562900
Leading supporters, all of whom support the campaign in a personal capacity, include:
- David Briggs - Managing Director, Dawson's Music Ltd
- Tony Caldeira - Founder,Caldeira Textile Company
- Professor Len Collinson DL - National Chairman, The Forum of Private Business
- Mike Graham - Managing Director, G & M Supplies
- Ann Jordan - Chairman, IOD North West
- Paul Mawdsley - Managing Director, The Mawdsley Consultancy
- Cllr Eveleigh Moore-Dutton
- Alistair E. Niven - Former Chairman, St James' Club
- Alistair Sim - Director, Love Creative
- Laura Wolfe - Regional Director, IOD North West
If you would like to get involved with the campaign in the North West please email:
northwest@iwantareferendum.com
EVENTS
The North West I Want a Referendum campaign was launched in Manchester and Liverpool on 16 October 2007. Campaigners inflated a giant ballot box - symoblising the wishes of the majority of North West voters who want a referendum - outside the Urbis Centre in Manchester and St. George's Hall in Liverpool.
North West Chairman Alan Halsall was interviewed on BBC Radio Manchester and BBC Radio Merseyside's breakfast programme and the peice was repeated on the hourly bulletins throughout the day.
In the picture (from left), Alan Halsall, Ann Jordan, Laura Wolfe, David Briggs.
The Manchester Evening News and the Liverpool Daily Post featured pictures of the launch. Alan Halsall told the Daily Post: “I think it is essential the people of this country get over to the politicians that they can’t just offer a referendum and then take it away. Gordon Brown came to power and the one thing he talked about was consultation. I believe it should be put to the people so we can have a proper debate about the subject.” Alan was also interviewed by Channel M and Wave FM
On 29 October Lord Leach, Chairman of the think-tank Open Europe, addressed a North West I Want a Referendum reception in the Lowry Hotel in Manchester.
IWR, NORTH WEST IN THE NEWS
IWR North West has recieved widespread media coverage. Below is a selection:
“Bolton voters call for EU treaty poll” Bolton News 3 March
“Polls close in EU treaty referendum campaign” Bolton News 25 February
“Event to raise cash for EU vote” Bolton News 12 February
“EU Treaty campaign gathers pace” Bolton News 8 February
“Southport-born businessman calls for citizens’ vote on EU treaty” Southport Visiter 4 January
"Call for referendum on new EU treaty" Bolton News 4 February
“Businessman is leading light in EU campaign” Warrington Guardian 31 December
“Pram-maker urges business to fight EU treaty red tape” Liverpool Daily Post 17 December
“EU referendum campaigners make a point with ballot box protest” Liverpool Daily Post 17 October
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“Rebel MP calls for referendum” Manchester Evening News 13 September
“Mike’s back in politics to call for referendum” News and Star 11 October
“Should a referendum be held on EU treaty?” Liverpool Daily Post 9 October
“MP has signed up” Liverpool Daily Echo 19 September
“MP Graham Stringer backs referendum campaign” Manchester Evening News 12 September
The EU isn't working. We need a vote to force politicians to reform it.
