Liberal Democrats to amend Queen's Speech with Referendum on EU Membership

3.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 13th Nov 2007

The Liberal Democrats will tomorrow put down an amendment to the Queen's Speech calling for a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union, so that the British people can have a proper debate about the future of Britain's relationship with the EU.

Liberal Democrat Acting Leader Vince Cable said "The EU has changed beyond recognition from the EEC that Britain originally joined in 1973. No-one under the age of fifty - including the current Foreign Secretary - has had a say on Britain's membership of the European Union. An in-out referendum would give people a proper and honest debate about the future of Britain's relationship with the EU. The Liberal Democrats are ready to make the positive case for Europe in a proper public debate about our membership, and we trust the people to make a decision about whether we should stay in or get out."