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Brown rejects union EU vote call Brown rejects union EU vote call
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown has rejected calls from two trade unions for the government to hold a referendum on the new EU treaty.Gordon Brown has rejected calls from two trade unions for the government to hold a referendum on the new EU treaty.
The GMB and RMT had joined the Tories and UKIP in demanding a vote by tabling motions at the TUC's annual conference. The GMB and RMT had joined the Tories and UKIP in demanding a vote by tabling motions for the TUC annual conference.
They say the treaty is almost the same as the discarded EU constitution, on which a referendum was promised.They say the treaty is almost the same as the discarded EU constitution, on which a referendum was promised.
But the prime minister said: "The proper way to discuss this is through detailed discussion in the House of Commons and the House of Lords."But the prime minister said: "The proper way to discuss this is through detailed discussion in the House of Commons and the House of Lords."
He added that he was confident Parliament would pass the treaty.He added that he was confident Parliament would pass the treaty.
He told a press conference: "Let's see what the TUC do. My own view is that the TUC, when it meets, will support the government."He told a press conference: "Let's see what the TUC do. My own view is that the TUC, when it meets, will support the government."
'Frustration''Frustration'
Europe Minister Jim Murphy said the government had made it "very clear" it would "not give away important areas of sovereignty" by signing the treaty.
Earlier this month, the Conservatives accused Mr Brown of trying to push the "unreadable" revised EU treaty through "on the quiet".Earlier this month, the Conservatives accused Mr Brown of trying to push the "unreadable" revised EU treaty through "on the quiet".
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "By all the standards of the past, the commitment to a referendum should be upheld."Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "By all the standards of the past, the commitment to a referendum should be upheld."
The GMB union said it was concerned the UK's opt-out from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights was being retained in the transition from the constitution to the treaty.The GMB union said it was concerned the UK's opt-out from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights was being retained in the transition from the constitution to the treaty.
The union's European officer, Kathleen Walker-Shaw, said: "The source of our motion to TUC is to raise our frustration about our government's position, which we are seeing as a clear indication that it is not committing itself to a social Europe.The union's European officer, Kathleen Walker-Shaw, said: "The source of our motion to TUC is to raise our frustration about our government's position, which we are seeing as a clear indication that it is not committing itself to a social Europe.
"What we want is a debate. We want people to stand up and start saying what is good about Europe. "What we want is a debate. We want people to stand up and start saying what is good about Europe."
"Let's stop being shy about the fact that, in recent years, the achievements in terms of developing a social Europe seem to have dried up and that doesn't satisfy our members."
The RMT's motion asks the TUC to campaign for a "no" vote, if a referendum is held on whether to adopt the treaty.The RMT's motion asks the TUC to campaign for a "no" vote, if a referendum is held on whether to adopt the treaty.
But Mr Murphy said a referendum was not needed as the treaty was different to the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. But Europe Minister Jim Murphy said a referendum was not needed as the treaty was different to the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.
He added: "In a country where UKIP gets 2.6 million votes at the last European election, of course there's an anxiety about Europe.He added: "In a country where UKIP gets 2.6 million votes at the last European election, of course there's an anxiety about Europe.
"But we've made it very clear in the treaty that the UK will not give away important areas of sovereignty to the European Union and in fact what's very clear is that every member state has said that the constitutional approach has been abandoned."But we've made it very clear in the treaty that the UK will not give away important areas of sovereignty to the European Union and in fact what's very clear is that every member state has said that the constitutional approach has been abandoned.
"There will be no European constitution.""There will be no European constitution."
UKIP, which campaigns for Britain to leave the EU, is also demanding a referendum on the treaty, calling on the government to "let the people decide".UKIP, which campaigns for Britain to leave the EU, is also demanding a referendum on the treaty, calling on the government to "let the people decide".