The background to so-called Same-Sex Marriage (SSM) shows it’s impossible for Britain to remain an EU member but leave the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), and Cameron’s claim he can renegotiate the fundamental principle of freedom of movement, is fraudulent. Five facts connect these issues: 1.The EU Parliament Citizenship Report 2010 “reiterates previous calls for Member States to ensure free movement for all EU citizens and their families, without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or nationality”. 2.a) The 2012 Citizenship Report reminded member states of a duty to implement the same 2004 Free Movement Directive rights granted to both married heterosexual couples as to civil partners and same-sex spouses. b) A majority of MEPs reintroduced a previously deleted line requiring the Commission “to ensure that the Directive is strictly applied”. c) Adina-Ioana Vãlean MEP, the text’s Rapporteur, said: “Same-sex couples face serious obstacles to their free movement, which is a pillar of the EU.” 3. Following a secret Council of Europe Conference, attended by Theresa May, the British ECHR President pledged that if “several countries” legalised gay marriage, the ECHR would declare SSM a Europe-wide human right.

While the fundamental principle of free movement remains, the UK cannot limit EU economic migrant numbers – requiring 230 new houses a day (Migration Watch) and thus for Bucks, and especially Chalfont St Peter, to take our share; even necessitating possible incursion into the green belt.

So, the renegotiation of the UK’s terms of EU membership fantasy is just another delaying tactic. — Cllr David G. Meacock, UKIP Chalfont Common