Published: 11/12/2007 00:00 - Updated: 04/02/2010 16:47

THE BIG ISSUE - Europe and the Rolleston referendum

MORE than two-thirds of voters want Britain to renegotiate the new European Union Reform Treaty or break ties with the EU, a new opinion poll has found.

The research, conducted for Eurosceptic campaign group Global Vision, also found that almost three-quarters of voters want Gordon Brown to grant a referendum on the agreement - which critics claim is just a rehash of the failed EU COnstitution.

ICM's findings were unveiled just hours before political leaders sign the treaty, a pact which will grant the EU new powers and allow it to appoint a president and foreign affairs chief.

They have also come to light just nine days before Rolleston villagers take part in their own referendum on the agreement, a ballot arranged under local democracy laws.

The survey results are certain to give the ballot added spice - but do they reflect the views of Mail readers in East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire? Furthermore, do they think the Rolleston poll is a good idea or an irrelevant gimmick? Reporter ADRIAN JENKINS gauged their opinions.

WE should get out of the EU - and the sooner the better. I've thought this for a long time.

I think the UK would be much better on its own instead of having to fork out millions and millions to support an organisation which can't even get its own accounts signed off.

To my mind, the EU is just one big social security organisation which ends up channelling money from the rich parts of Europe - ie us - to poorer areas, like Spain and Greece.

So I'm pleased about the Rolleston vote and hope they vote "No" to the treaty. It would be an important expression of local opinion.

Stefan Linklater,

Swadlincote

I DON'T know enough about the treaty to give a firm answer.

This is the problem about the Europe issue in this country. It's always clouded by bitter political arguments and the real issues are obscured.

It's time we had a sensible debate about it and put it to bed once and for all, instead of letting all this bitterness fester. Holding a referendum would be the perfect way to do this.

Pauline Childs,

Burton

NO. I'm all in favour of the EU. We'd be dead in the water without it.

It has helped prevent large-scale war in Europe for more than 50 years and now accounts for about 60 per cent of our trade. We'd be cutting our throat if we pulled out.

Joining the Americans and the Mexicans in their free trade agreement would be madness. We'd just became even more of a US puppet state and forfeit all our influence in Europe.

I agree there should be a referendum, but on EU membership as a whole, not just the treaty.

The Rolleston poll is just irrelevant. Gordon Brown doesn't give a fig what people there think and it's not going to make one jot of difference.

Teresa Morgan,

Church Gresley

I DON'T give a stuff about the European Union and the treaty. I don't understand it and I'm not interested in finding out more about it - most people think the same.

It's just boring and doesn't have any impact on my life.

As far as I can make out, the bods in Brussels seem more concerned about abolishing miles, gallons and ounces and smoothing out bent bananas.

Brown can do what he likes. It won't make a difference either way. And nor will the vote in Rolleston. It's just a complete waste of time.

Joe Callaghan,

Burton

WE shouldn't pull out, but we should make sure the treaty fits in with our needs.

At the moment, from the little I know about it, I don't think it does. The politicians just seem to have pulled off another con trick, like Ted Heath did when he took us in in the 1970s.

The people who run the EU are just interested in grabbing more and more power, especially from national parliaments. It is just a massive gravy train and not just for foreigners - look at people like Neil Kinnock and Peter Mandelson.

I admire the spirit of the campaigners in Rolleston, but I don't think their vote will make any difference. It's a national vote we need, not a parochial spat.

Mark Shaw,

Burton