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The mouse that roared: Tiny Dorset village votes for poll on EU treaty
Last updated at 07:22am on 21.09.07So far, Gordon Brown has denied us a vote on the new European Union treaty.
But last night in deepest Dorset, a group of unlikely champions emerged in the noble cause of letting the people's voices be heard on the issue.
The villagers of East Stoke gallantly thrust themselves into the vanguard of democracy - by deciding to have their say whether the Prime Minister likes it or not.
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Some of the East Stoke villagers set off to cast their votes yesterday: Now other communities nationwide could follow their example
Using a little-known part of the law, they held a parish poll asking the 339 residents: "Do you want a referendum on the EU Constitutional Treaty?"
The answer was a resounding Yes. Ninety per cent of voters supported the idea of a referendum, while just ten per cent were against.
In total, 80 votes were cast - representing a 23.6 per cent turnout. And Steve McKenzie, the returning officer for Purbeck District Council, announced that the proposition was carried.
Although the decision has no legal force, villager and referendum campaigner Darren Patterson said: "This is a massive turnout for this parish. Hopefully this will be the start of bigger things to come.
"I'm sure Gordon Brown will be aware of this and will be keeping an eye on the result. Let's hope this prompts him to hold a national referendum."
The PM has found himself under increasing pressure to give the country a vote on the treaty, which many believe is simply a revived European Constitution.
Critics of the document, who include Labour and Tory MPs and the unions, want a national vote.
They say the treaty is a Brussels power-grab virtually identical to the old Constitution. That was rejected in referendums by the Dutch and the French in 2005.
But Mr Brown is resisting demands for a vote, despite claims that he is breaking Labour's 2005 manifesto pledge to put any EU constitution to a vote. He says the new treaty does not amount to a constitution.
The quirk in the law that allowed East Stoke to send Mr Brown a defiant message about Brussels, is likely to lead to a number of copycat votes, inspired by the UK Independence Party and a dedicated parish referendum campaign.
A village in Cornwall is already lining up to be the next candidate.
Recently, life hasn't been easy for East Stoke. The village shop went 50 years ago. The school shut in the Seventies, the church in the Eighties, and the Post Office six years ago.
Indeed, the village hall, a converted Army barracks from the First World War, was deemed inadequate to operate as a polling station. Instead, district council officials thought it better to conduct the poll in a hall belonging to a river research lab.
But yesterday its villagers showed that were happy to stand upand be counted. Jim Boll, 73, said: "I voted Yes, as I have been against joining Europe all of my life. Everyone should get this chance to have a vote."
His wife Iris, 68, said: "I believe Europe is taking over our country without our say so."
Gemma Malbon, 24, said: "I think everyone deserves to have a say on such an important issue.
"How can we call ourselves a democracy unless the Government gives us a chance to vote?
"From a young person's point of view, I am worried about rising house prices, jobs, wages, immigration and the treaty could affect all of these."
Imre Niedermayer, 60, the Hungarian-born landlord of the village's surviving pub, said: "I was brought up under communism and unless we have a vote about this treaty and unless we are all allowed to make our contribution to politics, we will end up with a police state."
Residents of East Stoke last night voted 90 per cent 'yes' in favour of a referendum on the EU Treaty.
A total of 80 votes out of 339 were cast, representing a 23.6 per cent turn out. Some 72 people voted yes and eight - or ten per cent - voted no.
Steve McKenzie, the returning officer for Purbeck council, announced the proposition was therefore carried.
Mr Patterson said: "This is a massive turn out for this parish. Hopefully this will be the start of bigger things to come.
"I'm sure Gordon Brown will be aware of this and will be keeping an eye on the result. Let's hope this prompts him to hold a national referendum."
Reader views (10)
Why does it take a Dorset village to point the way for the entire country? Democracy is fast disappearing in the uk.
- Steve, Hereford
Well done the good folk of East Stoke. Shame about the low turn out
but guess we can assume the 250 or so villagers who did not bother to turn out also want a referendum if not would come along and voted yes lets have one.
- Laurence, Christchurch Dorset
Why is this not national? I guess because Nu Labour "changed their mind" again...
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
Gordon must be shaking in his boots.
In a village in Tory controlled Dorset 72 people vote in favour of a referendum.
- David Dee, Canterbury
If the public were asked if they wanted to bring back hanging they would probably answer yes. So one might think that the British government ought to change its policies to appease public opinion. But as the public are generally not legally qualified enough to determine the nation's penal system, nor are we qualified enough to assess whether this European "treaty" is appropriate for the country.
We could have weekly referenda on paying less tax or having longer holidays or everybody having live Premiership games free on the BBC. You could make a reasonable guess as to which arguments would win but would the consequences be sustainable? I doubt it.
But if you don't like the Government's decisions you will certainly have the opportunity to vote them out.
- Terry Roll, Bristol, England
What a coincidence, someone else with the same name as me but opposing opinions. I believe that this vote was important as it sets the way to get this treaty thrown out asap and that politicians have no right whatsoever to dictate whether or not we should join the EU, we need to vote on something this important with such far reaching consequences.
- Terry Roll, London
At least in Dorset they have courage. London has become so dour under the Labour mayor that nobody has spirit anymore. I do not think there will be a referendum here on anything that the Labour government has signed away in Brussels.
- Jonathan, London
What an utter waste of time and money. "A total of 80 votes out of 339 were cast, representing a 23.6 per cent turn out. Some 72 people voted yes and eight - or ten per cent - voted no." That sums up just how few people are actually concerned about this "issue". I am among a tiny proportion of the British population who actually tried to read the Treaty. I was baffled and gave up by page 2. Leave this important matter to the politicians that we elect to take these decisions!
- Terry Roll, London
Democracy at its best. A breath of fresh air. People standing up and being counted for an issue in which they deeply believe. The antithesis of career politicians who believe not in principle, but in expediency. The sad thing about politicians of all stripes is that by the time they have put in the years to gain the powers to make meaningful changes, they have forgotten the ideals that started them on the political path in the first place. With at least 80% of the British people wanting an opportunity to have an input on the UK becoming part of a federal state, we'll see if Mr Brown actually believes in what he says about returning power to the people. It comes down to trust. Does Mr Brown trust the British people to decide their own future? If he puts his trust in them, they'll return the trust. Simple as that. Mr Brown and other politicians have to stop treating the citizens of this country as children. Let us have a say in our future.
- Phil Jones, London UK
Were we not all going to get a referendum, as promised by Crash ordon when he got given the PM job by Tony Blair?
- Georgie, London
