Today Martin supported the passage of the European Union Referendum Bill through its second reading in the House of Commons.
The Bill is a simple one: it would enshrine in law that an in/out referendum would have to be held on the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union by the end of 2017.
This is the second time the Bill has been considered by the House of Commons. Last time, James Wharton MP brought the Bill to the House as a Private Member, where it passed, only for it to be 'talked out' in the House of Lords in January 2014.
The same Bill has now been brought again to the House, this time by Robert Neill MP.
Martin said: "This Bill is about giving the British people the say they want and deserve on our membership of the European Union. If the Bill is successful through its remaining stages, it would mean the law would require the people to be given their say on whether we remain in the European Union through an in/out referendum by the end of 2017."
Martin's contribution to the second reading of the Bill can be found below:
Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): "I shall be as brief as possible.
As a Member who has consistently supported an early referendum, I am delighted to support the Bill promoted by my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill). For 20 years before we joined the then Common Market, we argued but could
not decide, and in the 40 years since, our EU membership has remained a sore in our body politic. The reason is simple: the people were mis-sold membership; it has turned out to be something other than was promised. We now have more and more integration, with more and more power being passed to an unaccountable Euro-elite. What should have happened, of course, is that we had a series of votes after each of the major treaties. It might well be that we would still be in the same position—that is, a member—but it would have clearly been the settled will of the British people.
In 1975, I was the self-appointed chairman of the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Young Conservatives against the Common Market. The reason I was self-appointed is that I was the only member! The party was going through one of its phases of Euro-enthusiasm at that stage and the young Conservatives were pounding the streets in favour of a yes vote. I was a lone canvasser for the no campaign.
Referendums are the purest form of democracy: everyone has a vote. There is my vote; the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister vote; it all counts for one. As we have seen with the recent Scottish vote, referendums stimulate interest and enthusiasm for the political process.
Last night, I re-read my speech in the October 2011 debate. I referred then to the previous day when I had attended a civic service in Barton-upon-Humber. On that occasion, everyone I spoke to was in favour of my supporting the referendum vote. As it happens, the same event comes up this Sunday, so I will be able to go back and report that yet again I have supported the will of my constituents to have a referendum.
Finally, Euroscepticism runs deep in my constituency and in neighbouring Grimsby. At the time of the original negotiations, the fishing industry was literally sold out and was wiped out as a result. It is in the local DNA for people to be Eurosceptic. As I mentioned in an intervention, in common with other Members I am conducting a referendum of my own in my constituency. At the moment, 89% are showing a no vote. I am very confident that I am speaking on behalf of my constituents.
We live in a troubled world and I recognise that we need to co-operate with and work in partnership with our neighbours, but we do not need the bureaucratic monolith we have created. I hope that, when the referendum comes, as it surely will, my constituents and the country will vote to withdraw."