This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7379610.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Court challenge to EU referendum | Court challenge to EU referendum |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Millionaire Stuart Wheeler has won his battle to force a High Court review into whether the government should hold a referendum on the EU's Lisbon treaty. | Millionaire Stuart Wheeler has won his battle to force a High Court review into whether the government should hold a referendum on the EU's Lisbon treaty. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has ruled out a public vote on the treaty, saying it does not alter the UK constitution. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has ruled out a public vote on the treaty, saying it does not alter the UK constitution. |
| But Mr Wheeler said a vote was promised on the EU constitution and says the Lisbon treaty is virtually identical. | But Mr Wheeler said a vote was promised on the EU constitution and says the Lisbon treaty is virtually identical. |
| The hearing will be on 9 and 10 June. The Foreign Office said they were "confident" of their case. | The hearing will be on 9 and 10 June. The Foreign Office said they were "confident" of their case. |
| In March MPs voted by 346 votes to 206 to approve the EU (Amendment) Bill, after topic-by-topic debates over six weeks. | In March MPs voted by 346 votes to 206 to approve the EU (Amendment) Bill, after topic-by-topic debates over six weeks. |
| The Bill - which is now in the Lords - will ratify the Lisbon Treaty, which was drawn up to replace the EU constitution after that was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. | The Bill - which is now in the Lords - will ratify the Lisbon Treaty, which was drawn up to replace the EU constitution after that was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. |
| General election | |
| Mr Wheeler, a Conservative Party donor, said his legal challenge was "not trying to interfere with Parliament". | Mr Wheeler, a Conservative Party donor, said his legal challenge was "not trying to interfere with Parliament". |
| Mr Wheeler claims voters had a "legitimate expectation" that a referendum would be held after one was promised in Labour's last election manifesto on the EU constitution. | Mr Wheeler claims voters had a "legitimate expectation" that a referendum would be held after one was promised in Labour's last election manifesto on the EU constitution. |
| All 27 EU countries will have to ratify the treaty before it can come into force. | All 27 EU countries will have to ratify the treaty before it can come into force. |
| The Conservatives have said that they would not ratify the EU treaty if they were to win the next election - which has to be held by May 2010. | The Conservatives have said that they would not ratify the EU treaty if they were to win the next election - which has to be held by May 2010. |
| The treaty contains many of the reforms outlined in the constitution - including changes to voting rights and the creation of a European Commission president - but drops the name "constitution", a reference to EU symbols and an article on the primacy of EU law. | The treaty contains many of the reforms outlined in the constitution - including changes to voting rights and the creation of a European Commission president - but drops the name "constitution", a reference to EU symbols and an article on the primacy of EU law. |