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Leaders clash over EU referendum | Leaders clash over EU referendum |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Gordon Brown has clashed in the Commons with Tory leader David Cameron and Lib Dem Nick Clegg over an EU referendum. | Gordon Brown has clashed in the Commons with Tory leader David Cameron and Lib Dem Nick Clegg over an EU referendum. |
Mr Cameron said Mr Brown had lost his "courage" while the Lib Dem leader said the prime minister had "bottled it". | Mr Cameron said Mr Brown had lost his "courage" while the Lib Dem leader said the prime minister had "bottled it". |
Mr Brown responded by saying Mr Cameron was "appeasing" eurosceptics and had put jobs at risk. He ridiculed Lib Dem plans to abstain in the vote at 7pm. | Mr Brown responded by saying Mr Cameron was "appeasing" eurosceptics and had put jobs at risk. He ridiculed Lib Dem plans to abstain in the vote at 7pm. |
As MPs debate the issue, Lib Dem Tim Farron told the BBC he would quit his frontbench role and back a referendum. | As MPs debate the issue, Lib Dem Tim Farron told the BBC he would quit his frontbench role and back a referendum. |
There are reports that more Lib Dem MPs are preparing to defy the order to abstain in the long-awaited vote on whether there should be a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. | There are reports that more Lib Dem MPs are preparing to defy the order to abstain in the long-awaited vote on whether there should be a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. |
What we are dealing with here is something that goes wider than Europe - it's an issue of trust in politics William HagueShadow foreign secretary In quotes: EU vote debateTimeline: EU treaty | What we are dealing with here is something that goes wider than Europe - it's an issue of trust in politics William HagueShadow foreign secretary In quotes: EU vote debateTimeline: EU treaty |
The Tories say all parties promised a referendum on the EU Constitution and say there should be one on the treaty as it is mostly the same. | The Tories say all parties promised a referendum on the EU Constitution and say there should be one on the treaty as it is mostly the same. |
The debate and vote in the House of Commons is the key vote in the progress of the EU Amendment Bill, which ratifies the treaty, through the UK Parliament. | The debate and vote in the House of Commons is the key vote in the progress of the EU Amendment Bill, which ratifies the treaty, through the UK Parliament. |
Mr Cameron says he hopes they will win, but that is unlikely unless all opposition MPs (including Lib Dems) and about 34 Labour MPs rebel against their leadership. | Mr Cameron says he hopes they will win, but that is unlikely unless all opposition MPs (including Lib Dems) and about 34 Labour MPs rebel against their leadership. |
'Brown's troops' | 'Brown's troops' |
He urged both parties' MPs "to keep the word they gave to their constituents" on holding a referendum at the last election. | He urged both parties' MPs "to keep the word they gave to their constituents" on holding a referendum at the last election. |
He appealed to Lib Dems, saying "they are not part of Gordon Brown's troops. They don't have to march to his tune". | He appealed to Lib Dems, saying "they are not part of Gordon Brown's troops. They don't have to march to his tune". |
The Lib Dems pressed for a wider referendum vote but were defeated | The Lib Dems pressed for a wider referendum vote but were defeated |
Mr Cameron said: "If enough of them vote with us and if there are enough Labour MPs who vote to keep their word, we can get the referendum that the British people were promised." | Mr Cameron said: "If enough of them vote with us and if there are enough Labour MPs who vote to keep their word, we can get the referendum that the British people were promised." |
He told Mr Brown: "We have the courage of our convictions and are sticking to that promise - you have lost your courage." | He told Mr Brown: "We have the courage of our convictions and are sticking to that promise - you have lost your courage." |
But the prime minister hit back: "If this was a constitutional treaty, we would hold a referendum. But the constitutional concept was abandoned." | But the prime minister hit back: "If this was a constitutional treaty, we would hold a referendum. But the constitutional concept was abandoned." |
Defying whip | |
Mr Brown's spokesman said the government remained "confident of winning the vote this evening". | Mr Brown's spokesman said the government remained "confident of winning the vote this evening". |
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg defended his decision to tell his MPs to abstain, and maintained that he instead wants a referendum on the "real" issue - Britain's membership of the EU. | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg defended his decision to tell his MPs to abstain, and maintained that he instead wants a referendum on the "real" issue - Britain's membership of the EU. |
A debate on whether to allow the Lib Dem amendment on Tuesday ended in heavy defeat - 68 MPs backed the call, 471 voted against it. | A debate on whether to allow the Lib Dem amendment on Tuesday ended in heavy defeat - 68 MPs backed the call, 471 voted against it. |
I actually believe in Parliamentary democracy and I think this ought to be determined by Parliament Ken ClarkeConservative MP Analysis: Political fallout | I actually believe in Parliamentary democracy and I think this ought to be determined by Parliament Ken ClarkeConservative MP Analysis: Political fallout |
But Mr Clegg faces some rebels in his own party with Sandra Gidley, the Lib Dem health spokeswoman, saying she would be defying the party whip and voting for a referendum. | But Mr Clegg faces some rebels in his own party with Sandra Gidley, the Lib Dem health spokeswoman, saying she would be defying the party whip and voting for a referendum. |
"Rightly or wrongly, my constituents will perceive that I have broken a promise I made at the last election if I do anything other than vote in support of a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | |
Foreign Secretary David Miliband denied the government feared it might lose a referendum. | |
Scrutiny | Scrutiny |
He told MPs in the Commons that referendums should be called "where there's a fundamental shift in the balance of power between this nation state" and the EU. | He told MPs in the Commons that referendums should be called "where there's a fundamental shift in the balance of power between this nation state" and the EU. |
Mr Miliband cited the referendums on Scottish and Welsh devolution as examples of where constitutional change had made a referendum necessary. | Mr Miliband cited the referendums on Scottish and Welsh devolution as examples of where constitutional change had made a referendum necessary. |
HAVE YOUR SAY Let's have an open debate about what the treaty means to this country Mark Taylor, Leicester Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Let's have an open debate about what the treaty means to this country Mark Taylor, Leicester Send us your comments |
But shadow foreign secretary William Hague, who opened the debate, said: "A referendum should be held on this issue because a referendum was promised. | But shadow foreign secretary William Hague, who opened the debate, said: "A referendum should be held on this issue because a referendum was promised. |
"It was promised by the government, it was promised by the opposition and it was promised by the Liberal Democrat party as well." | "It was promised by the government, it was promised by the opposition and it was promised by the Liberal Democrat party as well." |
And ex-Labour minister Frank Field, who said he would be voting for a referendum, said: "Whether this is a constitution or a treaty, most people thought they were going to get a vote on what we are voting for today." | |
'Cynical' poll | 'Cynical' poll |
But ex-chancellor and pro-European MP Ken Clarke said that while he would be voting with the government, he did not agree with Mr Milliband's arguments against a poll. | |
He told the foreign secretary he risked "getting into trouble because of the deviousness and, at times, ridiculousness, of the arguments you are using". | |
Labour rebel Ian Davidson, who is proposing an amendment that would give a referendum on the treaty but allow the government to ask a second question, said the government appeared not to trust the people. | |
"One of the real reasons why we're not having a referendum in Britain is because they don't have confidence in the people producing the right result," he said. | |
All three of the main parties promised a referendum on the EU constitution in their 2005 manifestos. | All three of the main parties promised a referendum on the EU constitution in their 2005 manifestos. |
But the constitution was rejected by French and Dutch voters that year and the Lisbon treaty drawn up to replace it. | But the constitution was rejected by French and Dutch voters that year and the Lisbon treaty drawn up to replace it. |
'Opt-outs' | 'Opt-outs' |
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. |
It says most changes are minor and procedural and it has secured "opt-outs" where necessary. | It says most changes are minor and procedural and it has secured "opt-outs" where necessary. |
But the Conservatives, some Labour and Lib Dem MPs and the UK Independence Party among others, 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 among others, say that it is effectively the constitution under a different name - so there should be a referendum. |
All EU parliaments must ratify the treaty, which was signed by EU leaders last year, before it can come into force. | All EU parliaments must ratify the treaty, which was signed by EU leaders last year, before it can come into force. |
MPs have been debating the different elements of the treaty over the past month. | MPs have been debating the different elements of the treaty over the past month. |