Letter for publication – Conservatives Present Robust Europe Policy

Sir

We now have a clear dividing line between Labour and the Conservatives over Europe ahead of the General Election. Voters have a clear choice. Labour were the only Party who had the power to give us a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. They promised us that referendum. They broke their promise.

The Conservatives opposed the Lisbon Treaty. We wanted a referendum before it was ratified. We forced a vote on the issue in Parliament, and voted for a referendum. We were outvoted by Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs. Our local Labour MP, Mike O'Brien, voted against a referendum.

Now that the treaty is ratified David Cameron has laid out our new policy on Europe, and it is the most robust and eurosceptic position of all the mainstream parties.

Under a Conservative government, we will have a 'legal lock', enshrining a legal right to a referendum on any new treaty or loss of power to the EU. We will have a United Kingdom Sovereignty Bill, which will ensure the ultimate sovereignty of the UK over the EU. And over the course of the next Parliament we will take back into British control key elements of the criminal justice system, and social and employment legislation - and we will ensure a full opt out of the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

So the choice is clear. Vote for Labour or the Liberal Democrats, and you get ever closer political union with Europe. Vote for a minor Party such as UKIP, and you get five more years of Labour. Gordon Brown wants you to vote for a minor Party to save his hide.

Or vote Conservative, and give us the mandate to take back control of our affairs.

Kind regards

Dan Byles

Parliamentary Candidate for

North Warwickshire & Bedworth