Brown should not be scared of the ballot box on the EU

3.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 24th Oct 2007

Gordon Brown should show he is not afraid of the ballot box by holding a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU, Liberal Democrat acting leader, Vince Cable MP said yesterday. Speaking as the Prime Minister reported back to MPs after the Lisbon summit, Dr Cable said such a referendum would lead to an honest debate on the issue. The Liberal Democrats believe the current reform treaty does not require a referendum, but that the cumulative effect of changes to the EU since 1975 - including the Single European Act and Maastricht - mean there should now be a vote to reaffirm British membership.

We cannot continue to discuss Europe in the style perfected by the Conservatives. In office they promoted closer European integration without referendums. Now in opposition they indulge in the worst kind of anti-European populism. The fact is that no-one under the age of fifty has had a say on EU membership. It is time for the Prime Minister to climb out of his bunker and join us in leading the argument for a yes vote in a referendum on our future in the EU.