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| Version 19 | Version 20 |
|---|---|
| MPs reject EU treaty referendum | MPs reject EU treaty referendum |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| MPs have rejected proposals to hold a UK-wide referendum on whether to ratify the EU's Lisbon Treaty. | MPs have rejected proposals to hold a UK-wide referendum on whether to ratify the EU's Lisbon Treaty. |
| The House of Commons rejected the Conservative proposal by 311 votes to 248 votes following a six-hour debate. | The House of Commons rejected the Conservative proposal by 311 votes to 248 votes following a six-hour debate. |
| The result means Parliament itself will decide whether to ratify the treaty, signed by EU leaders last December. | The result means Parliament itself will decide whether to ratify the treaty, signed by EU leaders last December. |
| Thirteen Lib Dem MPs rebelled against the party's orders to abstain on the referendum vote, with three frontbench spokesmen resigning their posts. | Thirteen Lib Dem MPs rebelled against the party's orders to abstain on the referendum vote, with three frontbench spokesmen resigning their posts. |
| MPs rejected the Conservative amendment to the EU (Amendment) Bill by 63 votes. It is not yet known how many rebels there were among Labour and Conservative MPs. | |
| Manifestos | Manifestos |
| A second amendment calling for a referendum, put forward by Labour MP Iain Davidson, was also rejected, by 64 votes. | |
| All EU parliaments must ratify the treaty before it can come into force. The only country which has committed to a referendum is Ireland. | All EU parliaments must ratify the treaty before it can come into force. The only country which has committed to a referendum is Ireland. |
| All three of the main UK political parties promised a public vote on the EU Constitution in their 2005 general election manifestos. | All three of the main UK political parties promised a public vote on the EU Constitution in their 2005 general election manifestos. |
| But the constitution was rejected by the French and Dutch electorates later that year. The Lisbon Treaty was drawn up to replace it. | But the constitution was rejected by the French and Dutch electorates later that year. The Lisbon Treaty was drawn up to replace it. |
| 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. |
| The government says most changes are minor and procedural and it has secured "opt-outs" where necessary. | The government says most changes are minor and procedural and it has secured "opt-outs" where necessary. |
| Month-long debate | Month-long debate |
| 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. |
| The Lib Dem leadership, which instead wants a referendum on whether the UK should stay within the EU, ordered its MPs to abstain in the Tory-led debate. | The Lib Dem leadership, which instead wants a referendum on whether the UK should stay within the EU, ordered its MPs to abstain in the Tory-led debate. |
| But 13 refused to do so, instead voting for a referendum on the treaty. | But 13 refused to do so, instead voting for a referendum on the treaty. |
| Scottish affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael, countryside spokesman Tim Farron and justice spokesman David Heath resigned from the Lib Dem frontbench team. | Scottish affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael, countryside spokesman Tim Farron and justice spokesman David Heath resigned from the Lib Dem frontbench team. |
| 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. |