CAMPAIGNERS across Basingstoke joined a country-wide protest day held by a campaign group calling for the Government not to sign up to a controversial trade partnership.

Members of the 38 Degrees campaign group urged people outside Basingstoke train station on Saturday to sign their petition calling for the Government not to sign the controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

The partnership is a series of trade negotiations being carried out between European Union countries and America, aimed at reducing regulatory barriers for big corporations to trade, such as banking regulations and food safety laws.

Big concerns have been raised on the impact the partnership may have on the National Health Service and the potential introduction of Investor-State Dispute Settlements (ISDS) which could allow companies to sue Governments if their decisions caused them to lose profit.

A day of action was also held in other locations across the country, which saw campaigners talk to members of the public and explain the plan. The petition, which has been signed by almost 2.5 million people across the EU, will be delivered to politicians in October.

Josie Cocks, 17, who co-ordinated the Basingstoke event, said that because she isn’t able to vote yet, the petition was the perfect way to raise her concerns about the deal.

The 17-year-old, who lives in Whitewater Rise, Hook, told The Gazette: “It would enable large corporations to sue the Government for reforms that lose them profit such as welfare, environmental reform, animal welfare, and health and safety regulations. It is taking away democracy and allowing corporations to have power over people.

“Personally, I am quite into animal rights so that side is worrying to me and the whole democracy aspect. I don’t think companies should be able to take more power from people.”

Father-of-two Nigel Wooldridge, of Corelli Road, Brighton Hill, added: “I think it is a really dangerous piece of proposed legislation. If you come down to America’s standards in terms of health and safety regulations, it is not a good thing and if you come down to European standards with banking, that is not a good thing.

“I have spoken to three people who are aware of it and that is the incredible thing.”

To read more about TTIP and to sign the petition, visit 38degrees.org.uk/ttip.