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/7410140.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Peers reject euro entry vote call | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Peers have rejected an attempt in the Lords to put into law a requirement that a referendum is held before Britain joins the euro. | |
| The proposal by Tory peer Lord Blackwell was defeated by 60 votes. | |
| Tory leader in the Lords, Lord Strathclyde, said there was "something very fishy" about the government's refusal to back its own policy. | |
| Peers are debating the ratification of the EU treaty - but a vote is not expected on that at this stage. | |
| The Conservatives, who want a referendum, are expected to hold fire until the EU Treaty Bill's report stage in the Lords in June. | The Conservatives, who want a referendum, are expected to hold fire until the EU Treaty Bill's report stage in the Lords in June. |
| They will then mount a last-ditch bid to force one - although it looks unlikely to succeed. | They will then mount a last-ditch bid to force one - although it looks unlikely to succeed. |
| Lib Dem peers are expected to vote with the government, although there are likely to be dissenting voices on both the Labour and Lib Dem benches. | Lib Dem peers are expected to vote with the government, although there are likely to be dissenting voices on both the Labour and Lib Dem benches. |
| But there are also a number of prominent pro-European Conservatives who are likely to back the government's stance. | But there are also a number of prominent pro-European Conservatives who are likely to back the government's stance. |
| Royal Assent | Royal Assent |
| The report stage debates are expected on 4 and 9 June in the Lords, with a vote expected on 11 June - the day before Irish voters go to the polls in their referendum on the Lisbon treaty. | The report stage debates are expected on 4 and 9 June in the Lords, with a vote expected on 11 June - the day before Irish voters go to the polls in their referendum on the Lisbon treaty. |
| If the EU (Amendment) Bill clears a third reading in the Lords it will then go for Royal Assent, although the treaty could be stalled by a "no" vote in Ireland - the only EU nation holding a referendum. | If the EU (Amendment) Bill clears a third reading in the Lords it will then go for Royal Assent, although the treaty could be stalled by a "no" vote in Ireland - the only EU nation holding a referendum. |
| All we are seeking is a declaration by the court that the government, in breaking its promise to have a referendum, is doing something unlawful Stuart Wheeler | All we are seeking is a declaration by the court that the government, in breaking its promise to have a referendum, is doing something unlawful Stuart Wheeler |
| In March, MPs voted in the Commons by 346 votes to 206 to approve the EU (Amendment) Bill, after topic-by-topic debates over six weeks. | In March, MPs voted in the Commons by 346 votes to 206 to approve the EU (Amendment) Bill, after topic-by-topic debates over six weeks. |
| But it must be cleared by the House of Lords before it can become law. | But it must be cleared by the House of Lords before it can become law. |
| The Tories are pushing for a referendum on the grounds that the treaty is largely the same as the failed EU constitution, on which all three main parties promised a vote. | The Tories are pushing for a referendum on the grounds that the treaty is largely the same as the failed EU constitution, on which all three main parties promised a vote. |
| Labour argues it is a different document which does not contain the same far-reaching constitutional changes so a referendum is not necessary. | Labour argues it is a different document which does not contain the same far-reaching constitutional changes so a referendum is not necessary. |
| Legal challenge | Legal challenge |
| Lib Dem MPs were prevented from debating their preferred option of a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the EU when the Bill was in the Commons. | Lib Dem MPs were prevented from debating their preferred option of a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the EU when the Bill was in the Commons. |
| But their peers will abstain later when UKIP peer Lord Pearson of Rannoch tables an amendment calling for a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU. | |
| A Lib Dem spokesman said they would not vote with the eurosceptic party, even though they agreed with the amendment. | |
| It comes as the House of Commons confirmed it had instructed the Attorney General to intervene in a legal challenge by millionaire Stuart Wheeler to the government's decision not to hold a referendum on the EU treaty. | It comes as the House of Commons confirmed it had instructed the Attorney General to intervene in a legal challenge by millionaire Stuart Wheeler to the government's decision not to hold a referendum on the EU treaty. |
| The Speaker's Office insisted the move was not an attempt to derail Mr Wheeler's challenge, which will be heard in the High Court on 9 and 10 June. | The Speaker's Office insisted the move was not an attempt to derail Mr Wheeler's challenge, which will be heard in the High Court on 9 and 10 June. |
| "The Speaker has no interest in the substantive issue, his sole concern is that the court proceedings respect Parliamentary privilege," a spokesman said. | "The Speaker has no interest in the substantive issue, his sole concern is that the court proceedings respect Parliamentary privilege," a spokesman said. |
| 'Unlawful treaty' | 'Unlawful treaty' |
| It is likely to mean Mr Wheeler's legal team will not be able to use Commons documents or publications in presenting their case. | It is likely to mean Mr Wheeler's legal team will not be able to use Commons documents or publications in presenting their case. |
| Under the 1688 Bill of Rights, Commons proceedings cannot be cited in court proceedings. | |
| The attorney general will instruct legal counsel to act in the case, alongside Jonathan Sumption QC for the government, who represented the government during the Hutton inquiry. | The attorney general will instruct legal counsel to act in the case, alongside Jonathan Sumption QC for the government, who represented the government during the Hutton inquiry. |
| Mr Wheeler insisted he was not seeking to challenge Parliament's authority, merely hold the government to account over its promise of a referendum on the EU constitution, which he argues is the same as the Lisbon treaty. | Mr Wheeler insisted he was not seeking to challenge Parliament's authority, merely hold the government to account over its promise of a referendum on the EU constitution, which he argues is the same as the Lisbon treaty. |
| "We are not asking the Commons to do anything, all we are seeking is a declaration by the court that the government, in breaking its promise to have a referendum, is doing something unlawful," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "We are not asking the Commons to do anything, all we are seeking is a declaration by the court that the government, in breaking its promise to have a referendum, is doing something unlawful," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| Asked about his chances of success, he said: "If we get the declaration that we are asking the courts to make, that the refusal to grant a referendum is unlawful I don't see the government continuing taking no notice of that." | Asked about his chances of success, he said: "If we get the declaration that we are asking the courts to make, that the refusal to grant a referendum is unlawful I don't see the government continuing taking no notice of that." |