The People's Pledge is a new, all-party campaign to secure an
'in-out' referendum on Britain's membership of the EU.

The Democracy Movement is enthusiastically backing this exciting new initiative to finally force the political class to give the British people a say on whether we wish to be ruled by those we elect to Westminster - or by the unaccountable institutions of the European Union.

Broad support

The campaign has already assembled an impressive spectrum of
EU referendum supporters include John Cryer MP (Labour), Zac Goldsmith MP (Conservative), Jenny Jones AM (London Assembly Member, Green party), Marta Andreasen MEP (UKIP & former EU chief accountant), among many others.

The prominent economist Ruth Lea is also a supporter, as are writers Fay Weldon CBE, Virginia Ironside and John King.

The campaign has the support not only of those who are opposed to, or sceptical about, the EU. It's also backed by those who are committed to Britain's continued EU membership but who nevertheless acknowledge that the people should decide.

Unique strategy

Much more than merely a petition, the campaign's unique strategy sets it apart from all other referendum campaigns and gives it the greatest chance of success.

The People's Pledge aims to focus pressure on MPs in their own constituencies, by signing up as many people as possible who pledge to "use my vote to help secure a majority of MPs in Parliament who support an EU referendum".

The number of people signing in each constituency will be displayed on the campaign's website, and this unique feature will pile the pressure on MPs by enabling them to see exactly the strength of feeling in their area for the right to have a say on the EU - and how many votes they stand to gain, or lose, as a result of their stance on the issue.

Ultimately, the aim is to demonstrate to anti-referendum MPs, particularly those in the most marginal seats, that their jobs are on the line if they don't decide to support an in-out EU vote and to generate competition between candidates for the pro-referendum 'block vote'.

The campaign's sophisticated website will also record and display each MP's voting record on all EU-related issues, available for any voter to look up using only their postcode, and will finally enable voters to hold their MP to account for their actions on the EU.

From now until the next general election, through both national and local activities particularly in the marginal seats, supporters of the People's Pledge will be challenging MPs and their rival prospective candidates to declare their support for a referendum.

Sign the Pledge

This campaign therefore presents a new and innovative way to harness and focus 'People Power' towards bringing about change in Britain's relationship with the EU. It's about pressuring the political elite, where they will feel it the most, into giving us what they have long denied us; a say on the future of our political system.

With the passing of the EU Constitution/Lisbon treaty, and with a new forthcoming EU treaty designed to establish what Angela Merkel calls 'European economic governance', it is now clear that we as a people have to make a choice: Are we to be governed centrally from Brussels in a growing range of key policy areas or, instead, do we wish an alternative democratic future for our country?

We're urging all our supporters to sign the People's Pledge and to encourage as many others as they know to do so as well.

DM campaign continues

While the People's Pledge will make the case for people to be consulted about the EU's powers, it will not take sides on whether Britain would be better off in or out of the EU.

That's why, while working closely with the People's Pledge to secure an EU referendum, the Democracy Movement and other anti-EU groups will also continue independently to make the case for Britain to forge a new, genuinely co-operative relationship with our European neighbours that, unlike the EU, respects democracy.

When the People's Pledge is successful in securing that referendum, we who want change must also ensure that we are in a position to WIN it!

So look out for more information soon about how the DM will be taking forward the case for a referendum by supporting the People's Pledge - and also promoting a new vision for Britain outside and beyond the confines of EU membership.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• Support an EU referendum by signing the People's Pledge on the campaign's website.
  
  
• Watch the People's Pledge launch videos or view some of the fantastic media coverage the campaign has received.
  
  
• Add the People's Pledge as a friend on Facebook (you have to sign in first) and follow the campaign on Twitter.
  
  
• Keep up to date with the latest articles and comment on EU issues by the campaign's leading supporters by subscribing to the People's Pledge blog.
  
  
• Order some free Out of the EU and into the World DM leaflets promoting the case for leaving the EU and the People's Pledge campaign for an EU referendum.