“Let The People Decide”
THE PETITION THAT MADE HISTORY
The Campaign
Background to the Petition
Upon and prior to becoming Prime Minister in 2010, David Cameron said he wanted to "Stop banging on about Europe".
Strengthened by his Europhile coalition partner, the Liberal Democrats and the promise not to transfer anymore powers to the EU without a referendum; he thought he had knocked the issue into the long grass. Nearly all Tory MPs, relieved to be in power following 13 years of a Labour government , did not want to rock the boat.
UKIP had failed to capitalise on its successful European Election campaign of 2009 with a dismal showing in the 2010 General Election, failing to win a single seat. This was problematic as UKIP did not believe in an ‘In/Out’ referendum and sought EU withdrawal by gaining seats at Westminster.
One Independent MEP, formerly of UKIP read the Coalition Document and discovered a new parliamentary procedure, collect 100,000 signatures and force a debate in Parliament. That MEP was Nikki Sinclaire and she set about banging on about Europe.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/stoke/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8869000/8869118.stm
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