Independent campaign People's Pledge fights for EU referendum to be held in Manchester

By Ian Silvera

A politically independent campaign for an EU referendum is hoping to hold a local referendum in the Manchester Withington constituency as well as 38 other seats in late July.

People’s Pledge will run local referendums in three contiguous constituencies to poll opinions on whether the electorate want a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU.

The 39 seats, grouped in 13 touching triples, have been chosen from different areas of the country using various criteria.

Kelvin Hopkins MP, founding supporter of the People’s Pledge, said: “I wish the main political parties could see the benefit of giving the British people a chance to express a view about our relationship with our European neighbours.”

The move by the campaign group follows the success of their campaign in Thurrock in April.

There 30.4% of people voted by nine to one to agree with a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU.

An impressive turnout considering that the local council elections just one month later was 5% lower.

The locations of the three referendums will be announced in the next few days.

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