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The Congress for Democracy
is the all-party forum for those campaigning for an independent pound and against British
entry to the single currency and for a UK referendum on the
proposed EU constitution.
It provides a focus for individuals and groups from across the
political spectrum who are campaigning to keep the pound and for
campaigners for a referendum on the EU constitution. Additionally,
it undertakes research and publishes reports which are of interest to
participants in its Congresses in their separate campaigns.
At the First Congress for Democracy
in December 1998 - attended by MPs and Peers from all the main
political parties, as well as business leaders, trade unionists, and
individuals - it was agreed :
 That the European Single Currency is designed to bring about political as
well as economic union in Europe.
That abolishing the pound would mean that interest rates, exchange rates
and, ultimately, tax rates would be set by institutions that were not accountable to the
British people.
That Britain's growth depends upon her ability to set economic policy
according to her own needs.
That Economic and Monetary Union would jeopardise both
Britain's democracy and her prosperity.
That the individuals and groups represented at the
Congress would support a national campaign in defence of sterling,
open to all except racist or anti-democratic organisations.
At the Ninth Congress for Democracy
in May 2003 it was agreed that:
The Ninth Congress
recognises that the draft Constitutional Treaty presently being formulated
by the Convention on the Future of Europe:
would take major and irreversible steps to convert the EU into a fully
fledged State and would yet further subordinate the nations of Europe to
EU institutions and powers
would yet further diminish the democratic control by and accountability of
EU institutions to the peoples of Europe whilst vastly reducing the powers
of national parliaments
and therefore
RESOLVES THAT the Congress will take all steps open to it to explain and
publicise the true nature and effects of the Constitutional Treaty and
will press for a referendum of the British people on its ratification."
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