'Let's stop beating around the bush on EU'

10.24.46am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 26th Feb 2008

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is calling for an 'in-out' referendum on the EU

Liz Leffman, Prospective Liberal Democrat MP for Meon Valley, has given her full backing to party leader Nick Clegg's call for an 'in-out' referendum on the European Union.

Debate has raged on for months about the Labour Government's decision not to stick to its pledge of giving the British people a vote on the Lisbon Treaty, but the Lib Dems want to go further than just a vote on the Treaty.

Liz said: "I am in complete agreement with Nick Clegg that it is time for politicians on all sides of the House to recognise that, in reality, a vote on the Lisbon Treaty will be a vote on whether we should be in or out of the EU.

"Most people will never read the Treaty, so whatever they vote will be based on what they feel about our EU membership. So let's stop beating around the bush and get real on the subject of Europe.

"It's time to ask the question openly and let British people say yes or no to a question that they actually understand."