Bill does not guarantee a free and fair referendum, says UKIP Chairman
Posted on May 28, 2015 2:34 PM
The Draft European Union (Referendum) Bill that has been
published does not guarantee a fair referendum, says UKIP Chairman Steve
Crowther.
“While we strongly welcome the Government’s commitment in the Queen’s
Speech to an In-Out referendum, the Bill outlines the question to be asked,
which skews the referendum in favour of a ‘stay-in’ position by giving the
Europhiles the ‘Yes’ answer – regardless of what concessions the Prime Minister
manages to negotiate.
“But more importantly, it fails to mandate a period of ‘purdah’, normal
in elections, to prevent the government from making announcements in the run-up
which might affect the result.
