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Liam Fox: Vote Tory to avoid 'tragedy' of no EU referendum | Liam Fox: Vote Tory to avoid 'tragedy' of no EU referendum |
(35 minutes later) | |
Voting Conservative is the only way to avoid the "tragedy" of not having an in/out EU referendum, former Defence Secretary Liam Fox has said. | Voting Conservative is the only way to avoid the "tragedy" of not having an in/out EU referendum, former Defence Secretary Liam Fox has said. |
On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Fox did not dismiss speculation that UKIP could win the most seats in the European parliament elections in May. | On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Fox did not dismiss speculation that UKIP could win the most seats in the European parliament elections in May. |
But he warned: "A vote for anyone [other than the Conservatives] is likely to mean no vote for the British people on their own destiny. | But he warned: "A vote for anyone [other than the Conservatives] is likely to mean no vote for the British people on their own destiny. |
"That would be a tragedy." | "That would be a tragedy." |
Asked whether the UK Independence Party could win the forthcoming poll, the Conservative MP for for North Somerset said: "I think pretty much anything could happen in May because voters will very much see the European elections as a referendum on a referendum. | Asked whether the UK Independence Party could win the forthcoming poll, the Conservative MP for for North Somerset said: "I think pretty much anything could happen in May because voters will very much see the European elections as a referendum on a referendum. |
"It's very important that the Conservative Party is defined by the national interest, that we decide that we have to have a rational and reasonable debate about our role in Europe and our role in the world. | "It's very important that the Conservative Party is defined by the national interest, that we decide that we have to have a rational and reasonable debate about our role in Europe and our role in the world. |
"There is only one party in this country that can guarantee the people in this country will get a referendum on the EU and that is the Conservative Party." | "There is only one party in this country that can guarantee the people in this country will get a referendum on the EU and that is the Conservative Party." |
Mr Fox's comments came on the day a YouGov opinion poll for The Sun suggested that the Conservatives would come third if the European elections were held tomorrow, with 23% of the vote, compared with 26% for UKIP, 32% for Labour and 9% for the Lib Dems. | |
The Sun quotes UKIP leader Nigel Farage as saying: "These are exciting figures. This will be the most significant Euro election ever in this country because at last we discussing Europe and immigration - we hope to win it." | |
The same online poll, of 1,893 British adults on Tuesday and Wednesday, suggested that if there were a general election tomorrow Labour would get 39% of votes, the Conservatives 33%, UKIP 12% and the Lib Dems 10%. |