EU referendum roadshow rolls into Telford
A national roadshow of public meetings to discuss the 'In or Out?' referendum campaign and Britain's relationship with the European Union will arrive in Shropshire tonight.
The Whitehouse Hotel in Wellington is hosting the latest leg of the 'Say No To The EU' tour, organised by the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group at the European Parliament.
The Telford event, at 7pm, is the fifth of 12 public meetings planned across the West Midlands, and is part of a programme of meetings across the UK.
Speakers will include Shropshire-based Ukip MEP Jill Seymour, who said: "We currently hand the EU an eye-watering £55 million every single day. Leaving the EU will allow us to spend that money at home, where it is most needed.
"We would love people to come along and hear what our speakers have to say – this is not a party-political broadcast, we're trying to start a healthy, constructive debate."
The debate comes as Cabinet minister Chris Grayling delivered a damning assessment of the EU, claiming the current terms of membership are "disastrous" for the UK.
The Commons Leader, a prominent Eurosceptic, warned that Brussels was heading towards closer union between members states, "a path that the UK will not and should not follow".
David Cameron has allowed ministers to campaign on either side ahead of the promised referendum, but not until his negotiation process with fellow EU leaders is complete, and in a carefully-worded article Mr Grayling stopped short of saying Britain should vote to leave.
He said: "It would make a huge difference to all of us if the PM came back and said these negotiations have all failed and I'm not recommending staying in the EU. Many of us would have to re-evaluate our positions. I don't think that will happen.
"On the assumption that there is a reasonable success and negotiations now taking place, and the PM says we should stay in the EU, then that is the way I would go."
