Bedford Borough Lib Dems seek open, honest debate on Europe

9.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 10th Oct 2007

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats set out their desire for an open and honest debate on Britain's position in Europe at a meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday night. On a night when a motion calling for a referendum on the narrow technical issue of the EU Reform Treaty was unsuccessful, Liberal Democrats outlined their desire to see the debate opened up and called for a referendum on whether Britain should remain a Member of the European Union.

Commenting on the issue, Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Michael Headley said:

"It's time for an open and honest debate on the EU. There's no point hiding behind a referendum on the reform treaty when what people want is to debate the fundamental question of our relationship with Europe"

"It seems that many people, including UKIP and Conservative Councillors here in Bedford Borough, are seeking some sort of phony war on this issue, when really we should all be participating in a serious, honest debate and giving the British people a genuine choice. People deserve the chance to make the decision on the real issue of whether our interests are best served by being a part of the European Union. Liberal Democrats believe emphatically that they are, and we are ready to lead the argument in favour of Britain's continued membership of the EU."