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		Where's our Referendum Friday, 22nd June 2007 Brown must keep referendum promise says MEP "Where's Our Referendum?" That's the message that went to Westminster today, in letters two feet high as an ad-van carrying the demand "Don't let them sign away more powers to Europe!" rolled up outside the Houses of Parliament at 10:00 a.m. The van was an initiative of Conservative MEP Roger Helmer, who is calling on Gordon Brown to fulfil Labour's clear Manifesto Commitment to offer the British people a referendum on the EU Constitution. Tony Blair is expected to sign a revised EU Constitution in Brussels today. The original EU Constitution was roundly rejected by French and Dutch voters in mid-2005. But in a recent leaked letter, the European Council's President-in-Office, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, spoke of making "presentational changes" and using "different terminology with the same legal effect", such as calling the Constitution a Treaty, and replacing the Charter of Fundamental Rights with "a one-line cross reference having the same legal effect". In a speech in the European parliament on June 7th, Helmer described Merkel's letter as "dishonest and deceitful", attracting sharp criticism from the German President of the parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering MEP. After a two-year "reflection period", EU leaders are determined to bring back most of the substance of the failed Constitution, but to deny voters a say. They will argue that this merely a conventional Treaty, not a Constitution, and therefore does not require ratification by referendum. Yet it is expected to contain much of the previous content, including a permanent President, a Foreign Minister, a legal personality, and the dropping of vetoes in a wide range of policy areas. Mr Helmer is determined to remind Gordon Brown that the promise of a Constitutional referendum was made not only by Tony Blair personally as Prime Minister, but was a specific manifesto commitment by Labour at two successive general elections. "We will put (the Constitution) to the British people in a referendum", they said. This commitment is therefore equally binding on Gordon Brown when he moves to Number Ten. Speaking alongside his ad-van today, which will then proceed on a tour throughout the East Midlands, Mr Helmer said: "Gordon Brown cannot pretend that calling it a Treaty and making a few cosmetic changes can justify breaking Labour's firm commitment to the British people. Brown must call a referendum". Asked about hints from Gordon Brown associates that the new Prime Minister might agree to a referendum, Mr Helmer replied: "This sounds to me more like choreography than concession. I think it's spin. They're softening us up for parliamentary ratification without a referendum. We can't let them get away with it". More photographs of the ad van on location