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MPs consider fallout from EU vote Lib Dems defend Clegg on EU vote
(about 4 hours later)
MPs are assessing the fallout from the vote to reject a referendum on the controversial new EU treaty. Senior Lib Dems have defended Nick Clegg's handling of the EU treaty vote after 15 of his MPs chose to defy him.
The government saw off attempts in the Commons by both the Tories and its own rebel MPs to stage a referendum. Frontbencher Chris Huhne rejected a suggestion it was "kamikaze politics" to order MPs to abstain from the vote, just a "difference of opinion".
But the outcome has exposed divisions in all three parties, particularly the pro-European Liberal Democrats. MEP Chris Davies said Mr Clegg was at "the very heart and soul" of the party.
The Conservatives have vowed to fight on and introduce their amendment calling for a referendum when the treaty bill goes to the House of Lords. The Conservatives, who called the vote over a referendum on the treaty, have said they will try to reintroduce it when the debate continues in the Lords.
In the House of Commons vote on Wednesday night, the Conservative amendment to the EU (Amendment) Bill was rebuffed by a majority of 63. Mr Clegg, who has been Liberal Democrat leader for less than three months, ordered his MPs to abstain from a vote on the Tory amendment, calling for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
Strategy backfired Tory cheers
But there were splits, with 29 Labour MPs and a quarter of Lib Dems backing the call for a public vote. Three Tories also defied their party leadership. Among the 15 - almost a quarter of all Lib Dem MPs - who defied him to vote in favour were three frontbenchers, Alistair Carmichael, Tim Farron and David Heath, who resigned from their roles to defy his orders.
Nick Clegg, who has been Lib Dem leader for less than three months, has defended ordering his party to abstain in the vote. Mr Carmichael was cheered by Conservative MPs when he got up to speak in the Commons on Thursday, to which he responded: "There are few things more worrying than being cheered by Tories."
But his strategy appeared to backfire with 15 of his MPs refusing to do so, and three frontbenchers resigning over the issue. I don't recognise the description of this as kamikaze politics at all Chris HuhneLib Dems class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7279805.stm">Clegg revamp after rebellion class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4416&edition=1">Send us your comments
We hope that in this case the Lords will hold the government to their manifesto commitment William Hague, Conservative class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7279805.stm">Clegg revamp after rebellion class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4416&edition=1">Send us your comments Mr Clegg said on Wednesday he was sorry to lose the three spokesmen but he respected "their strongly held views on the subject".
Mr Clegg has already reassigned their responsibilities, but it was seen as an uncomfortable experience for the new leader. All three of the main parties promised a referendum on the EU Constitution in their 2005 manifestos.
Like the government, the Lib Dem leadership argued that a referendum on the EU's Lisbon Treaty was not necessary as it is a very different document from the now abandoned EU constitution. But the constitution was abandoned and the Lib Dems and the government argue the treaty is different - so it does not require a referendum.
But the Conservatives, along with 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. Parties divided
All three main parties promised a public vote on the EU Constitution in their 2005 general election manifestos. The Tories, along with some Labour and Lib Dem MPs, the UK Independence Party and others, say it is essentially the same thing and accuse the other parties of breaking a promise.
Pivotal role In all 15 Lib Dems and 29 Labour MPs defied their party leadership to back the Tory amendment. Three Conservatives voted against their party to oppose a referendum.
He sat on the fence as a point of principle, he divided his party after only a few weeks Theresa MayConservatives
Mr Huhne, who narrowly lost out to Mr Clegg for the Lib Dem leadership, denied suggestions his leader had created difficulties for himself.
He told the BBC: "I don't recognise the description of this as kamikaze politics at all.
"It seems to me that we have had - as all the parties have had - a difference of opinion over an interpretation of whether or not the Lisbon Treaty is sufficiently close to the old constitutional treaty to justify a referendum on that."
'Heart and soul'
MEP Mr Davies said Mr Clegg had had "a very difficult set of cards to play" but would be leader "for a very long time".
He said: "The man is so obviously intelligent, so disarmingly good-humoured and self-depreciating even in situations like this and so absolutely determined to fight the liberal corner, even when his views may not be popular, that he is at one with the very heart and soul of this party."
But the Lib Dems came under attack in the Commons, where shadow Commons leader Theresa May said Mr Clegg had "flunked his first big test" as leader.
We hope that in this case the Lords will hold the government to their manifesto commitment William Hague, Conservative
"He sat on the fence as a point of principle, he divided his party after only a few weeks and he's created two classes of frontbenchers, those who have to resign for rebelling and those who don't."
The Conservatives have vowed to fight on and introduce their amendment calling for a referendum when the EU (Amendment) Bill - which would ratify the treaty - goes to the House of Lords.
It was defeated in the Commons on Wednesday night, by a majority of 63, but exposed divisions in all three parties - particularly the pro-European Liberal Democrats.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the Lib Dems could still help secure a referendum on the treaty if they abstained again in the Lords, where the government has no overall majority.Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the Lib Dems could still help secure a referendum on the treaty if they abstained again in the Lords, where the government has no overall majority.
"It is convention that the House of Lords does not stand in the way of manifesto commitments. We hope that in this case the Lords will hold the government to their manifesto commitment. "The Liberal Democrats' position will once again be pivotal. We will see if they follow their three-line whip in the Commons to abstain," he said.
"The Liberal Democrats' position will once again be pivotal. We will see if they follow their three-line whip in the Commons to abstain."
The result of yesterday's vote means Parliament itself will decide to ratify the treaty, signed by EU leaders last December.The result of yesterday's vote means Parliament itself will decide to ratify the treaty, signed by EU leaders last December.
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.