THERE has been some criticism within these pages about the cost and/or bother of the EU referendum.

However, it has only been the Conservatives who have had enough faith in the power of democracy to actually open up the process, to let all voters take stock of our current relationship with the EU and to have a say as whether to stay in or leave.

Unlike Labour, who fearfully fought the idea of giving ordinary voters a choice, or the Lib Dems who have kept changing between supporting a referendum and not, or UKIP who could never deliver one, as a party we are encouraging all residents to engage with the issues and to make their voices heard.

And unlike York’s Liberal Democrats, we did not support a council motion pretending to represent residents’ views on the matter, because we believe that York’s voters can actually speak for themselves.

In the run-up to June 23 we are encouraging everyone to listen, to think and most importantly, to vote.

Cllr Tony Richardson (Conservative), Haxby and Wigginton ward, York