We need a Referendum

6.30.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 17th Sep 2007

Colin Ross at the European Parliament

Colin Ross, whilst at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Brighton has today called for a referendum on Europe.

Colin said "The European Union of today is vastly different to the European Economic Community built for the six countries after the Second Ward, vastly different from the European Economic Community the UK joined in 1973 and again vastly different from the European Economic Community that was voted upon in the 1975 referendum. I remain a committed European, I believe the EU has offered and continues to offer a number of positive reasons for the UK to remain a member. In this country we suffer from a media that constantly derides the European Union, tells us bad stories, myths and other falsehoods, I believe we have never really had the positive pro-European argument put forward in a coherent way. I am calling for a referendum to allow that debate - a debate I think is needed and I believe that debate can be won and we can finally move on."

Colin also attended a presentation from José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission in which he did make the positive case for Europe, Colin added "We need more people making the case for Europe - I already do this and will continue to do so."