Village Poll - Rolleston, Staffordshire

by Craig Chapman - 08:44 on 06 December 2007

The village of Rolleston, just inside the Staffordshire borders, facing Derbyshire across the River Dove is the latest to hold a Village Poll, inviting local residents to demand a Referendum on the EU Treaty / Constitution.

A village meeting was called in November, at which over 40 people listened to an explanation of the rules of a Village Poll and the motion to demand the Referendum.

Some local Liberals tried to close the meeting declaring that it was an illegal gathering and that Village Polls can only vote on a local issue, despite several having already taken part around the country on this very subject. They were overuled and it was suggested that they do their homework, as the organisers of the meeting had done so well.

The Local Government Act 1972 and the Parish and Community Meetings (Polls) Rules 1987 give electors the right to request a parish poll. More than ten electors have to back the call and the request has to be made at a parish meeting.

The motion was carried with a vast majority of those attending and entitled to vote doing just that (some residents from neighbouring villages came along to support the good work being done).

The Rolleston Village Poll will now take place on Thursday 20th December 2007, between 4-9pm at the Scout Hut, Station Rd, Rolleston. The question to be voted on is :-

"Do you demand that our Government holds a Referendum, as promised, regarding the EU Treaty / Constitution. Yes or No."

Leaflets are being distributed by hand, to avoid a costly Borough Council Bill being sent to the Parish Council. It was suggested that the bill should be sent to local Labour MP Janet Dean as it is down to her party's dishonesty that the country is now being denied a Referendum. She has since answered this question in local newspapers, stating that she finds these polls most unhelpful - perhaps she should really be listening to what those voted her into her position are saying and not just talking down to them in that irritating tone so many MPs adopt - TCA (Teflon Coated Arrogance).

Popular Alliance congratulates the local residents who have worked hard for this and taken a lot of criticism from Liberals on the local Parish Council. It really shows that people are still willing to stand up and demand an honest government.

In Stretton and across Burton on Trent, Popular Alliance members are distrubuting ready prepared letters to many houses, addressed to our local MP Janet Dean, demanding that she votes for a referendum when Gordon Brown tries to push the Treaty/Constitution through the House of Commons. We are happy to send copies of this letter to people in other towns to do likewise.

This is called democracy and is what made our country Great.

Popular Alliance opposes Great Britain being ruled by the EU and having such large proportions of the nation's income tax being involuntarily handed over for so little return, to an organisation that has not been audited in 13 years and that has no right of power on our shores. PA's policy is to offer a Referendum to the citizens of Great Britain, with the pros and cons of EU membership listed accurately, something which our Government appears very afraid to produce or even discuss.

More information at www.popularalliance.org

Results of the Rolleston Poll

East Staffordshire Borough Council has announced the results of the parish poll held in Rolleston on Dove on Thursday, December 20^th, following a request from residents for a vote on the EU Constitutional Treaty.

The question asked was ‘Do you want a referendum on the current EU Constitutional Treaty?’

The results were 254 votes for Yes and 8 for No.

The vote had a 9.92% turnout with 262 Ballot Papers issued from an electorate of 2642. (details from ESBC website newspages)

10% turnout ? Was it worth it ? Does this give more power to the pro-EU MPs or does it represent a voice of discontent in the British heartlands. What other issue has started off around 50 Parish Polls in the UK ?

What is does represent a victory for, is the Bank of England maintaining our economy despite the endless cock-ups that our government make and also for the wall of silence that Blair and Brown have managed to hide endless EU initiatives within. If the people of Rolleston were informed of just how much the EU is taking over our lives and nation, there would have been far more than 10% turnout. The media silence is a crime in itself.

It should also be noted that the polling station was not exactly located in the centre of the village and the 4-7pm window in which to vote may well have left many older voters not wishing to venture out in the dark.

This question will be answered when the next Labour candidate at a national election counts his returns from Rolleston on Dove.  

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