Ukip candidate takes referendum claim to court

Updated 09.43 Thu Feb 07 2008
Keywords: lisbon treaty, referendum, stuart bower, ukip, uk independence party, european union, gordon brown, prime minister

A potential parliamentary candidate for the UK Independence Party is bringing a claim against Gordon Brown to court.

Stuart Bower claims the Government are in breach of contract by refusing to hold a referendum on the European Union Lisbon Treaty, which formally defines what the EU can and cannot do and the means it can use, was signed by the 27 member states of the EU in December.

"They made a written promise and broke it" - Stuart Bower

Before the 2005 General Election, the Labour Party promised a referendum on the European Constitution which was later voted down in similar polls held in France and Holland.

But the Prime Minister argued a referendum is not needed because the Lisbon Treaty does not have the constitutional character of the document rejected by French and Dutch voters.

However, Mr Bower claims the Lisbon Treaty is effectively the same as the European Constitution and Brighton County Court will be asked whether the Government's refusal to hold a referendum amounts to a breach of contract with Labour voters.

Mr Bower, Ukip's prospective parliamentary candidate for Hove in East Sussex, said: "From the papers I have been sent, it seems that the Prime Minister is denying the pledge made in his Government's manifesto."

He added: "Surely this is a desperate act as everybody knows the commitment was made and that is why many people gave their votes to his party.

"To me, it is a clear case of breach of contract. They made a written promise and broke it. That was a contract between the Government and the people."

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