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MPs to debate 'in or out' EU vote MPs reject 'in or out' EU debate
(about 1 hour later)
MPs are to vote on whether to debate the Liberal Democrats' call for a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union. MPs have rejected a Liberal Democrat attempt to force a debate on Britain's EU membership by 471 votes to 68.
In an unusual move, Speaker Michael Martin has left MPs to decide on whether there should be such a debate. The Commons Speaker turned the decision over to MPs, after his decision not to allow the debate last week prompted a mass walkout by Lib Dem MPs.
The Lib Dems walked out of the House of Commons last week after their call for a debate was rejected by Mr Martin. Lib Dem Ed Davey said MPs should allow a full debate - and asked what other parties were "frightened of".
The vote - expected at 1620 GMT - comes a day before MPs vote on Tory calls for a referendum on the new EU treaty. Minister Jim Murphy said MPs voted on the issue last year and overwhelmingly rejected it.
Tory leader David Cameron has called on Lib Dems to join Labour rebels and most of his MPs in backing a referendum being held on the treaty itself. The vote comes a day before the long-awaited MPs' vote on whether to hold a referendum on the new EU treaty.
'Real' referendum 'Deliberate distraction'
The pro-European Liberal Democrats are expected to abstain in the vote on the Conservative amendment. Foreign affairs spokesman Mr Davey told MPs it would be "undemocratic" not to allow the debate on UK membership of the EU.
Instead the Lib Dems say they want a referendum on what leader Nick Clegg calls the "real" issue - the whole question of whether Britain should remain in the EU. "I simply can't believe that the government, the Conservative opposition or indeed any other party would wish to curb open debate in this House," he said.
David Cameron's Conservatives have the opportunity to give the British public a say on the real question Nick Clegg But he came under attack from Labour and Conservative MPs who accused him of supporting the debate for other reasons.
Their efforts to secure a debate to that effect were frustrated last week when Speaker Michael Martin chose not to allow it. Its purpose is to try to paper over the deep divisions in one party William HagueConservatives
Angry outbursts from frontbencher Edward Davey that it was "an outrage" and he was being "gagged" led to him being ordered out of the Commons - followed by a mass walkout by his colleagues. For the Conservatives, William Hague said it was a "deliberate distraction from what is really at stake on the Lisbon Treaty".
On Tuesday Mr Martin decided to use a little-known piece of Parliamentary procedure to let MPs decide whether an "in or out" debate should be held on Wednesday. On Wednesday the Conservatives will bring an amendment calling for a referendum on the new EU treaty - arguing that all the main three parties promised one on the constitution, and the treaty is essentially the same.
Constitution row The Lib Dems have said they will abstain - Tory leader David Cameron has appealed to Lib Dem MPs to rebel against their party leadership.
Party leader Mr Clegg said: "David Cameron's Conservatives have the opportunity to give the British public a say on the real question that will settle Britain's European future once and for all: an in-out referendum." Merits of treaty
There has been a long-running campaign for there to be a referendum on the new EU treaty. In the Commons, Mr Hague dismissed the Lib Dems' call for an "in or out" referendum saying: "Its purpose is to try to paper over the deep divisions in one party between those honourable members who vote to keep the manifesto pledge they made and those who wish to break it."
Labour MP David Taylor also accused Mr Davey of trying to "obscure" what the party's real policy towards Europe was.
They are not part of Gordon Brown's troops. They don't have to march to his tune David CameronThey are not part of Gordon Brown's troops. They don't have to march to his tune David Cameron
For the government, Europe Minister Jim Murphy said the Lib Dem vote was not needed, as the same issue had already been heavily defeated in a Commons vote last November by 68 to 464 votes.
He added the debate on Wednesday was on the "merits of the Lisbon Treaty not whether we should or should not be in the European Union".
But Labour MP Andrew MacKinlay said he would vote for the debate and said he believed the pro-Europeans would win an "in or out" referendum and it would reaffirm Britain's place in the EU.
Constitution pledge
The pro-European Liberal Democrats are expected to abstain in Wednesday's vote on the Conservative amendment.
Instead the Lib Dems say they want a referendum on what leader Nick Clegg calls the "real" issue - the whole question of whether Britain should remain in the EU.
The treaty was designed to replace the EU constitution, on which all three of the main parties promised a referendum in their 2005 manifestos.The treaty was designed to replace the EU constitution, on which all three of the main parties promised a referendum in their 2005 manifestos.
But the constitution was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.But the constitution was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.
The government and the Lib Dems say the treaty does not have constitutional implications, so a referendum on it is not needed.The government and the Lib Dems say the treaty does not have constitutional implications, so a referendum on it is not needed.
But the Conservatives, some Labour and Lib Dem MPs and the UK Independence Party, all say that it is effectively the constitution under a different name - so there should be a referendum.But the Conservatives, some Labour and Lib Dem MPs and the UK Independence Party, all say that it is effectively the constitution under a different name - so there should be a referendum.
Wednesday's vote in the House of Commons - expected in the early evening - is seen as the key vote in the EU treaty's progress through the UK Parliament.Wednesday's vote in the House of Commons - expected in the early evening - is seen as the key vote in the EU treaty's progress through the UK Parliament.
Conservative leader David Cameron says he hopes they can win - but said "a lot depends" on support from rebel Lib Dem MPs.Conservative leader David Cameron says he hopes they can win - but said "a lot depends" on support from rebel Lib Dem MPs.
"They are not part of Gordon Brown's troops. They don't have to march to his tune," Mr Cameron said."They are not part of Gordon Brown's troops. They don't have to march to his tune," Mr Cameron said.
"They can make up their own minds and they have got a very simple choice tomorrow when we vote: 'Do I keep the promise I made to my voters and have a referendum or do I sit on the fence and abstain, allowing the government to get away with cheating the British electorate?'"