Call for EU referendum by group of Labour activists

A GROUP of Labour MPs, councillors and activists will today launch their own campaign for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.

With Labour leader Ed Miliband still unclear as to whether the party will match David Cameron’s pledge to hold an EU referendum by the end of 2017, a new Labour for a Referendum campaign group will launch later today.

It has the public backing of 14 Labour councillors from across the Yorkshire region – and more than 150 nationwide – as well as MPs including Great Grimsby left-winger Austin Mitchell.

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Organisers claim they have at least tacit support from up to 10 members of the Shadow Cabinet.

The Labour activist and businessman who is chairing the new group, John Mills, said: “Labour for a Referendum will be at the heart of the discussion about our EU policy over the coming year.

“Labour MPs, councillors and activists from across the country recognise that fighting an election without a commitment to an EU referendum is dangerous.

“The Tories will paint us as the anti democratic party in 2015, if we don’t give the people a say.”

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None of the party’s big-hitters have signed up to the campaign, with Shadow Cabinet members wary of being seen to force Mr Miliband’s hand two years out from the next election.

But Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls previously told the Yorkshire Post that Labour would be “stupid” to allow itself to be cast as the ‘anti-referendum party’ in comments which were widely interpreted as a warning to his leader.

One well-known campaigner who has signed up is One Foot in the Grave actor Richard Wilson.

He said: “Any sensible Labour Party member should support Labour for a Referendum. As a pro-European I want to put the issue to bed once and for all.”