NI Conservatives’ spokesman, Bill Manwaring, has welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment to hold a referendum on the European Union, but he described the DUP and UUP’s concerns about EU accountability as “rather ironic”, given their opposition to voters in Northern Ireland playing a full role in UK politics.
“David Cameron is dedicated to addressing the major problems many people from across the continent have with the EU and building a Europe which works for the whole of the UK and for Northern Ireland”, Bill emphasised. “That means strengthening the Common Market, but cutting back on the meddling, bureaucracy and inefficiency which often gets the European Union a bad name. Part of that process is asking the people of the UK to provide a new mandate for our membership of a Europe which is better for us.”
“One of the main complaints which people have with the EU is that it is not accountable enough to voters. These concerns are absolutely valid, although it is rather ironic when they’re flagged up by the DUP and the UUP. Those parties are doing all they can to prevent the people of Northern Ireland from having a meaningful say in the way that they’re governed from Westminster. I welcome their support for the Prime Minister’s action on Europe, but I would also urge them to show a bit of consistency and support Northern Irish voters playing a full role in choosing the UK government.”