Grass Roots letter in The Sunday Telegraph Feb 7th 2016

As Conservative Party members and supporters, we were proud to campaign for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union during the 2015 general election. It was a historic opportunity to secure a democratic vote for the British public on this vital matter.

The goodwill of the Prime Minister committing to a referendum has been undermined by his comments this week in the House of Commons urging his MPs to ignore the views of members of the Conservative Party and its associations. It was through the dedication and hard work of Conservative Party members that David Cameron secured the majority he needed to form a government. Grassroots Conservatives pounded the streets in all weather, knocking on doors, running street stalls and raising money to ensure that their Conservative candidates were elected and Mr Cameron would secure a Conservative majority. It is deeply regrettable that the Prime Minister dismisses the very people who helped secure his victory, and he should remember that no prime minister has a divine right to rule.

The EU referendum is a testing time for the Conservative Party as it evokes such passionate views on both sides of the debate. We urge Mr Cameron to accept that loyal Conservative Party members want the opportunity for a balanced debate and that he and his colleagues should listen to the views expressed by all at the grassroots.

We urge the Prime Minister to refrain from showing any disrespect to the loyal servants who helped him win a majority government.

Ed Costelloe
Chairman, Grassroots Conservatives
Somerton and Frome
David Allen
Gillingham and Rainham.
Colin Aylin
Stevenage
Raymond Cade
Heathfield
Diarmid Campbell
Bromsgrove
Alan Chapman
Shipley
James Cheetham
Orpington
Andrew Clift
Orpington
Paul Diamond
Cambridge
Mary Douglas
Salisbury
Stewart and Sheila Drennan 
Bexhill and Battle
Matt Ewart
South Staffordshire
John Fifield
Weaver Vale
Robert Flunder
Brentwood and Ongar
Richard Fontes
Wrexham
Guy Hordern
Edgbaston
Kath Howell
Loughborough
Ian Hunter
Colchester and North Essex
Paul Jemetta
Horsham
Ros Jump
Haltemprice and Howden
Arthur Kay
Bexhill and Battle
Anthea Kemp
Somerton and Frome
Jeremy Knapp
South Suffolk
Roger Lomas
Fermanagh and Tyrone
Richard Mackenzie
Kingston upon Hull North
Gladys Macrae
Chippenham
Anne Meek
Rutland and Melton
Delyth Miles
Clacton
Bob Moore
Bexley
Andrew Nicholas
Enfield
Pam Notcutt
Beckenham
Tony Partridge
Clwyd South
John Sharp
Haltemprice and Howden
John Sheldon
Esher and Walton
William Stebbings
Tewksbury
Peter Steveney
Thirsk and Malton
John Strafford
Beaconsfield
Tony Tucker
Edinburgh North and Leith
Geoffrey Vero
Surrey Heath
John Waine
Nuneaton
John Wilkinson
Hastings and Rye
John Winter
Scarborough and Whitby
Ken Worthy
Esher and Walton