I know that the whole House is delighted that my hon. Friend saw the light. Some of us not only campaigned in the referendum in 1975 but voted against the Single European Act—only three colleagues who did so remain in the House and, unfortunately, they are all Opposition Members. This is terribly important. My hon. Friend voted for the measure at the time because he thought that he was voting for a common market in goods and services. That is what the British people thought, and we tried to persuade them that it was going to be more than that: it was going to be a united states of Europe. That is the direction of travel, and there is no indication that the direction of travel has changed, which is why we need a referendum.
European Union (Referendum) Bill
Proceeding contribution from
Gerald Howarth
(Conservative)
in the House of Commons on Friday, 5 July 2013.
It occurred during Debate on bills on European Union (Referendum) Bill.
About this proceeding contribution
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565 c1210 Session
2013-14Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamberSubjects
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