Green MP Caroline Lucas today issued a statement backing a referendum on the EU.

She joins the two Labour MPs who have so far declared they will ignore party whip and also vote in favour of the referendum.

Lucas said:

I support a referendum on our membership of the EU because I am pro-democracy, not because I’m anti-EU – and because I want to see a radical reform of the way Europe operates.

The EU has the potential to spread peace and make our economies more sustainable, and to promote democracy and human rights, at home and throughout the world.

But it must urgently change direction, away from an obsessive focus on competition and free trade and towards placing genuine co-operation and environmental sustainability at its heart.

The Green Party leader will table an amendment to the Conservative backbench motion for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU, stating:

(d) seek to build support for radical reform of the EU, increasing its transparency and accountability, refocusing its objectives on co-operation and environmental sustainability rather than competition and free trade, and enabling member states to exercise greater control over their own economies.

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

   Caroline Lucas backs EU referendum http://t.co/V9R2lrfz

2. Adele Bailey

   Caroline Lucas backs EU referendum http://t.co/V9R2lrfz

3. Elliot Folan

   Caroline Lucas backs EU referendum – and offers constructive amendment calling for reform of EU: http://t.co/J2hR1qa3

4. Chris Kendall

   ffs RT @libcon Caroline Lucas backs EU referendum http://t.co/8g0Ic2TQ

5. Chris Kendall

   really thought better of @CarolineLucas RT @libcon Caroline Lucas backs EU referendum http://t.co/8g0Ic2TQ

6. Scott Redding

   @allanandrews @kevin_j_foster re: Allan on EU referendum – http://t.co/aLYUUgMl – Kevin, how would you have voted as MP for Cov South?

7. John P

   really thought better of @CarolineLucas RT @libcon Caroline Lucas backs EU referendum http://t.co/8g0Ic2TQ

8. Laura Pett

   Caroline Lucas backs EU referendum http://t.co/V9R2lrfz

9. Christopher Snowdon

   Caroline Lucas rather surprisngly backs EU referendum because she is "pro-democracy" http://t.co/Egl4DrN8 via @libcon

10. RICHARD J WILLIAMS

    Caroline Lucas rather surprisngly backs EU referendum because she is "pro-democracy" http://t.co/Egl4DrN8 via @libcon

11. Why Caroline Lucas has outflanked Labour on the EU vote | Liberal Conspiracy

    [...] the EU vote by Paul Cotterill     October 22, 2011 at 10:20 am Yesterday, Caroline Lucas submitted an amendment. to the EU referendum [...]

12. Ian Grey

    Chairman asks us to boo quietly if we disagree. Greeny amendment here http://t.co/fR3Q21S5 #peoplespledge

13. Sean Dolat

    Caroline Lucas backs EU referendum | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/ujnogWAl via @libcon

14. Labour and the Lucas amendment « Though Cowards Flinch

    [...] When I got home, I saw that Caroline Lucas had been thinking along similar lines, and had actually submitted an amendment. [...]

15. Jonathan Bartley

    @lee_alley My point was values (narrow self-interest) which shape response. This best sums up my own position: http://t.co/ZfTiMs8y