Polls close in EU treaty referendum campaign

4:20pm Monday 25th February 2008

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THE polls have closed in Bolton on a campaign for a referendum on the new EU treaty.

The "I Want A Referendum" campaign is now calling for Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly to listen to the voters.

Bolton West was one of 10 constituencies where a poll has been held and the results will be announced next week.

Residents have been asked whether they think the Government should hold a referendum on the treaty and whether they think Britain should adopt the document.

Leaflets were sent to 77,000 homes encouraging them to vote.

"I Want A Referendum" North-west chairman wrote a letter to Ms Kelly asking her to listen to her constituents.

He said: "Your constituents deserve to be taken seriously on their behalf I ask that you accept the result of the referendum and allow it to guide how you vote when this matter comes before Parliament."

The Government promised a referendum on the EU Constitution, which was abandoned in 2005 after being rejected by voters in France and The Netherlands.

Gordon Brown is refusing to let people vote on the new Lisbon Treaty, which has replaced it, rejecting claims that the two documents are largely the same.