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| Leaders clash over EU referendum | Leaders clash over EU referendum |
| (20 minutes 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 hit back by accusing Mr Cameron of "appeasing" his eurosceptics and putting British jobs at risk. He ridiculed Lib Dem plans to abstain. | Mr Brown hit back by accusing Mr Cameron of "appeasing" his eurosceptics and putting British jobs at risk. He ridiculed Lib Dem plans to abstain. |
| MPs are now taking part in a six hour debate ahead of a vote at 1900 GMT on a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. | MPs are now taking part in a six hour debate ahead of a vote at 1900 GMT on 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 Analysis: Battle commencesTimeline: 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. |
| Conservative leader David 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. | Conservative leader David 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 |
| He 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 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." |
| Mr Brown's spokesman said the "government remains confident of winning the vote this evening". | Mr Brown's spokesman said the "government remains 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 href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7279425.stm">In quotes: EU vote debate | |
| 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 Today. | "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 Today. |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband denied that it was the government's fear of losing a referendum that drove it to want to prevent the public from having a vote. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband denied that it was the government's fear of losing a referendum that drove it to want to prevent the public from having a vote. |
| 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, echoed that sentiment. | And ex-Labour minister Frank Field, who said he would be voting for a referendum, echoed that sentiment. |
| "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," he told the BBC. | "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," he told the BBC. |
| 'Cynical' poll | 'Cynical' poll |
| Tory ex-chancellor and pro-European MP Ken Clarke said he would not be supporting calls for a referendum. | Tory ex-chancellor and pro-European MP Ken Clarke said he would not be supporting calls for a referendum. |
| "We've only ever had one UK-wide referendum in this country, which was a rather cynical one held by Harold Wilson many years ago and I hope we never have another," he told the BBC. | "We've only ever had one UK-wide referendum in this country, which was a rather cynical one held by Harold Wilson many years ago and I hope we never have another," he told the BBC. |
| "I actually believe in Parliamentary democracy and I think this ought to be determined by Parliament." | "I actually believe in Parliamentary democracy and I think this ought to be determined by Parliament." |
| 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. |
| They will also be asked to consider an amendment tabled by Labour rebels, which would allow for a further supplementary question which might, for example, include a question on the future of the EU. | They will also be asked to consider an amendment tabled by Labour rebels, which would allow for a further supplementary question which might, for example, include a question on the future of the EU. |