WOKINGHAM wants a second referendum on membership of the European Union if results of an informal poll are correct.
On Saturday, August 4, members of Berkshire For Europe canvassed the views of shoppers in Wokingham town centre, inviting them to stick stickers on its special Brexitometer.
They were asked a range of questions, and responded by placing stickers into boxes for yes, don’t know and no.
Those taking part voted no to the following: Would Brexit be good for jobs?; Would Brexit be good for the NHS?; Would you be prepared to wait 50 years for a Brexit benefit?; and Is Brexit going well?
A fifth question – should there be a People’s Vote on the final deal? – was the only one where people voted yes.
In each poll, the winning stance was by a landslide.
Peter Leisupe, chairman of Berkshire For Europe, said that he was delighted with how the canvassing had gone.
“It’s been very good and the day has gone well, even though it’s been quiet. We’ve had some good conversations, people are thinking more and more about what’s actually happening.
“We’ll be doing more of this, you’ll see us in the streets more often, so people can come and speak to us.”
He added that the group has branches across Berkshire including Maidenhead, Slough, Windsor and Newbury.
“We’ve just started in Wokingham,” he said.
However, Wokingham MP John Redwood is resisting calls to change his stance on Europe.
The famous Eurosceptic, who has long campaigned to leave the EU, said in a blogpost: “I support Leave as an MP on the basis of a double mandate to do so from the referendum and a General Election.
“The Government and Parliament made it clear that the referendum gave the decision to UK voters over whether to leave or stay.
“I feel bound by the decision.”
He added: “I conclude from the General Election that Wokingham voters either want Brexit or believe they should go along with it.
“They had every opportunity to signal they wanted to stop Brexit by voting Lib Dem, but the overwhelming majority decided not to do so.”
An inaugural meeting was held at the Broad Street Tavern on Monday, August 6, for the launch of a Wokingham People’s Vote group, which calls for a referendum on the final deal.
