AN MP is urging voters to press politicians for a referendum on leaving the EU.

Tory Euro-sceptic Douglas Carswell is one of the organisers of the People’s Pledge campaign, which wants a poll on whether the country should remain in the union.

The last referendum on Europe was in 1975, when the country voted to stay in the European Economic Community.

The Clacton MP says it is time for a new poll. He explained: “No-one under the age of 54 has had a say and those who did, then, were voting to be in the Common Market, not an EU super-state.”

The People’s Pledge was launched with support from across the political spectrum.

It asks voters to promise only to support candidates at the next General Election who promise to call for a binding referendum on EU membership.

Mr Carswell said: “It’s a cross-party initiative to remind politicians in London it’s our democracy, it’s our country and we should have the final say over membership of the EU.

“If, like David Cameron, you think we should stay in, then fine, but the other 60million people should have their say, too. I suspect more people think we should come out than stay in.

“I might be wrong, but that’s the beauty of democracy – you let the people decide.”

One MP unlikely to back Mr Carswell is Tory colleague Bernard Jenkin, MP for Harwich and North Essex.

He said the time was not right to decide on Europe.

Mr Jenkin explained: “Sooner or later, a referendum on Britain’s place in Europe is inevitable and in many respects, is long overdue, but right now is not the time.

“We have to sort out our deficit and we need a broader debate about what the UK’s national interests actually are.

“Only after that debate, will we be able to answer the question rationally as to whether we should be a member.

“My opinion is probably not, but we need to do the analysis and have the debate.”

Bob Russell, Colchester’s Lib Dem MP, also opposes the campaign. He said internet campaigns were not the right way to put pressure on MPs.

He added: “If my constituents want to contact me, they can contact me. They don’t have to go through a third party.”