Andrew Slaughter MP defies local referendum result

Local MP Andrew Slaughter has defied the result of the Hammersmith EU Treaty referendum and voted AGAINST a national referendum on the re-named EU Constitution Treaty.

Despite his election promise to support a referendum on the EU Constitution, and 77% of people having voted in support of a national referendum during the Hammersmith poll, Andrew Slaughter voted against one following a debate in Parliament on Wednesday 5 March.

Andrew Slaughter's full voting record on the 'Lisbon' Treaty can be seen on the ReferendumList website - click here.

He not only voted against a Conservative amendment for a referendum, but also one put down by rebel Labour MPs. Then he voted for the Treaty to be approved regardless.

In doing so, Mr Slaughter has sent the resounding message that not only does he have little interest in representing majority local opinion in Parliament if he thinks he personally knows better, but also that he cannot be trusted to deliver what he promises at election time.

The debate over a referendum on the Treaty now moves to the House of Lords. If the Lords pass their own referendum amendment, MPs may get a second chance to vote on the issue.

If Mr Slaughter doesn't think twice and deliver both his election promise and what a majority of local people clearly want when that opportunity arises, then he will leave local voters little option but to pass judgement on how he has acted at the next general election.

Hammersmith referendum: RESULTS

The I Want a Referendum campaign today announced the results of the EU referendum held in Hammersmith and nine other constituencies across the country.

The referendums have been carried out for IWR by Electoral Reform Services – a leading firm of independent election scrutineers recognised by the United Nations, the British Government, and used by all the three main parties for their internal elections.

The referendums have led to an unprecedented response from voters for an unofficial poll.

Postal ballots were sent to more than 26,000 people in the Hammersmith constituency. 22% of ballot papers distributed were returned.

KEY RESULTS

• Stunningly, 152,520 people voted across just ten parliamentary constituencies. 133,251 voted for a referendum – 88%.
  
  
• 5,685 people voted in Hammersmith, of whom 4,358 are in favour of a referendum – 77%.
  
  
• Even though the poll was unofficial, there was a 36.2% turnout across the country. In Hammersmith 21.8% of voters who were sent ballot papers responded. A higher proportion voted in these unofficial referendums than in real elections in the local areas. The average turn-out for local elections (minus year when general elections were held) since 1996 is 35.4%. The average turnout in referendums on directly elected mayors - including in London - was 30.1%.
  
  
• Voters in Hammersmith resoundingly rejected the EU's Lisbon Treaty. 4,485 people voted against it - 79% of those responding.

Mary Ann Sieghart, local Hammersmith resident, said: “This is a fantastic result for the referendum campaign. It will be very difficult for Andy Slaughter to ignore this very clear message from his constituents. We want him, and this Government, to keep their promise for a referendum on the EU Treaty.”

Greg Hands MP said: “The people of Hammersmith have spoken. They want a Referendum on the EU Treaty. I will be voting next week to give them one. I will also be watching very closely to see if Andrew Slaughter does the same, as he promised to do when he was elected in 2005.”

Stuart Coster of the Democracy Movement said: “Hammersmith voters have taken this opportunity to show that they want to see a national referendum. The Government should take this seriously and hold the national referendum it promised. This is about trust – and democracy.”

Polling expert Anthony Wells from UK Polling Report said: "A turnout in the mid thirties is stunning for a private referendum, higher than you'd expect to find in some actual local elections. Private referendums run the risk of only those sympathetic to the cause taking part in the vote, but with independent opinion polls consistently showing around four-fifths of those who express an opinion support a referendum, these don't seem too out of line."

Derek Scott, Chairman of the national I Want a Referendum campaign, said: "This is a great result. These MPs must now make it clear whether they are prepared to listen to the wishes of their constituents or just ignore them."

Simon Hearn from Electoral Reform Services said: "Electoral Reform Services can confirm that the administration of the ballot went very smoothly. We are satisfied that any individual who received a ballot paper was able to vote in secret and have their vote accurately counted."

The full table of results for all ten referenda are available here (pdf file).