I Want a Referendum, Wales, Cymru
ABERCONWY VOTERS DEMAND NATIONAL REFERENDUM ON REVIVED EU CONSTITUTION
I Want a Referendum has announced the results of the EU referendum held in Aberconwy 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 29,235 people in the Aberconwy constituency. 36.6% of ballot papers distributed were returned.
Key Results
Stunningly, 152,520 people voted across just ten parliamentary constituencies. 133,251 voted for a referendum.
10,700 people voted in Aberconwy, of whom 9,219 are in favour of a referendum – 86.2%.
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 Aberconwy 36.6% 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 Aberconwy, a greater proportion of people voted for a referendum than voted for sitting MP Betty Williams at the last election. 31.5% of those balloted in Aberconwy voted for a referendum, while Betty Williams won 23.1% of the vote.
Voters in Aberconwy resoundingly rejected the EU's Lisbon Treaty. 9,408 people voted against it – 87.9% of those responding.
The Aberconwy constituency referendum campaign was launched on 12 February
SUPPORTERS
IWR currently has 5212 supporters in Wales.
Chairman
Dan Munford
E-mail: dan.munford@tiscali.co.uk
Press officer
Tim Powell
Telephone: 07939 571 553
EVENTS
The Welsh I Want A Referendum campaign launched on January 25 on the steps of the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. Local organisers announced that the constituency selected to hold the referendum on the revised EU Constitution is Aberconwy, a key marginal seat in both Westminster and Assembly elections.
Dan Munford, a Welshpool businessman who chairs the Welsh regional branch of the I Want a Referendum campaign, said: "We are building the campaign in Wales totally cross-party. There is support among Labour and Lib Dems, and among businesses concerned about extra bureaucracy." He was interviewed by BBC Wales and ITV Wales. The event was also reported by Western Mail, Daily Post and Western Morning News.
Read the presse release here.
WALES IN THE NEWS
The IWR campaign in Wales has recieved widespread coverage. Below is a selection from the broadcast and print media:
"North Wales wants vote on EU treaty" Daily Post 3 March
"Local poll supports EU referendum" BBC Wales 3 March
“Let the people have their say” Western Mail 23 February
“
“Lisbon Treaty vote” BBC Politics Show Wales 7 February
“Vote on EU treaty ditched in Conwy” Daily Post 5 February
“Conwy referendum postponed” PM programme (34 minutes in) 6 February
“Campaigners keep issue alive as Ministers hold firm in refusal to hold referendum on EU treaty” Western Mail 27 September
“43,000 to have say on EU” Daily Post 25 January
“Euro treaty debate centres on Aberconwy” Western Mail 25 January
"North Wales wants vote on EU treaty" Daily Post North Wales 3 March
Gordon Brown should have the courage to call a referendum.
