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EU referendum demands dismissed EU referendum demands dismissed
(about 19 hours later)
The government has dismissed calls for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, two days ahead of a crunch House of Commons vote on the issue. The government has again dismissed calls for an EU treaty referendum, two days ahead of a crunch Commons vote.
Europe Minister Jim Murphy told MPs it was up to Parliament to decide "the right thing to do". Europe Minister Jim Murphy told MPs it was up to Parliament to decide "the right thing" to do.
The Tories say a referendum on the treaty is needed as it is largely the same as the discarded EU Constitution, on which one was promised. But Gisela Stuart called for a free vote for Labour MPs while Tory MP Mark Francois said there had not been enough time to debate issues such as defence.
But ministers say the two documents are fundamentally different. MPs will vote on Wednesday on a Tory amendment to the EU Amendment bill calling for a referendum on the treaty.
Mr Murphy told the Commons that every government in the EU had agreed that the "constitutional approach" had been abandoned. The Conservatives say the treaty is essentially the same document as the failed EU Constitution, on which all three of the main parties promised a referendum in their 2005 manifesto.
'Failure of democracy' Constitution 'abandoned'
Earlier today, two men scaled a crane near Parliament to demand a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. The government says it is very different and does not require a referendum, as it only amends the EU's existing constitution, rather than overwriting it.
But as the ninth day of debate on the EU (Amendment) Bill got under way, Mr Murphy said: "The place to make these decisions is in this chamber - not on a crane half way above the city sky of London. On the ninth day of debate on the bill, Mr Murphy said every government in the EU had agreed that the "constitutional approach" had been abandoned.
This chamber will decide later this week whether it's the right thing to have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty or not Jim MurphyEurope minister Parliament protest at treaty
Referring to two men who had earlier scaled a crane near Parliament to demand a referendum, Mr Murphy said: "The place to make these decisions is in this chamber - not on a crane half way above the city sky of London.
"This chamber will decide later this week whether it's the right thing to have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty or not.""This chamber will decide later this week whether it's the right thing to have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty or not."
Conservative Mark Pritchard said it was a "failure of democracy" when people had to take "direct action only a few hundred yards from Parliament because the government has reneged on its promises on the EU reform treaty". His own East Renfrewshire constituency was among those targeted by I Want A Referendum campaigners at the weekend, who say their unofficial ballots on the issue showed 88% of the public wanted a say.
Conservative spokesman Mark Francois condemned the timetable for the remaining parts of the Bill, demanding extra time to debate the implications for defence. 'Misguided' approach
Labour backbencher Gwyneth Dunwoody said the legislation was being "guillotined" and "cut short in the most brutal and unhelpful manner". But Mr Murphy dismissed the findings, adding: "In my own constituency there were more people who voted for the failed Conservative candidate in the last election, than voted in the process we have just been through."
She added: "I just think the government are foolish, I think they are unwise, I think they ought to have done this better." Monday's Commons debate was the latest in a series of topic-by-topic debates on the bill that would ratify the new treaty, already signed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
'Misguided' We have not had detailed parliamentary scrutiny. The government really don't deserve to get away with this Mark FrancoisConservatives
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey called for at least an extra day for debate and said the government's approach was damaging to the pro-European position. But the government's handling of the bill was criticised by MPs from all parties.
The Liberal Democrats' foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey called for at least an extra day for debate and said the government's approach was damaging to the pro-European position.
He added: "I don't think it helps the government's case and that's why they are misguided."He added: "I don't think it helps the government's case and that's why they are misguided."
All three main political parties promised a referendum on the EU Constitution in their 2005 general election manifestos. 'Brutal manner'
But the constitution was discarded after Dutch and French voters rejected it later that year. And Labour backbencher Gwyneth Dunwoody said the legislation was being "guillotined" and "cut short in the most brutal and unhelpful manner".
The EU Reform Treaty, signed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other national leaders in Lisbon in December, was designed as a replacement. Conservative Mark Pritchard said it was a "failure of democracy" when people had to take "direct action only a few hundred yards from Parliament because the government has reneged on its promises on the EU reform treaty".
Ministers argue that no referendum is needed as the treaty merely amends the EU's existing constitution, rather than overwriting it - as the failed constitution would have done. And shadow Europe minister Mark Francois condemned the timetable for the remaining parts of the Bill, demanding extra time to debate the implications for defence.
But the Tories, UKIP, SNP, Plaid Cymru, DUP and various groups, including I Want a Referendum, say the two documents are substantially the same and that the public must have a say. He said: "We have not had detailed parliamentary scrutiny. The government really don't deserve to get away with this.
MPs are due to vote on a Conservative amendment to the EU (Amendment) Bill calling for a referendum on Wednesday. "On Wednesday, Members of this House will have a vital opportunity to prevent them from doing so."
Ms Stuart's calls for a free vote for Labour MPs were met with the response that it was "beyond the scope of business" before MPs as they debated the remaining timetable for the legislation.