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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| 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 for the TUC 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' |
| 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. |
| Its general secretary, Bob Crow, told the BBC: "They [the government] went to the British people on the promise there would be a referendum." | Its general secretary, Bob Crow, told the BBC: "They [the government] went to the British people on the promise there would be a referendum." |
| He also said: "What we want him [Gordon Brown] to do is implement what his manifesto was." | He also said: "What we want him [Gordon Brown] to do is implement what his manifesto was." |
| 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. |
| European officer Kathleen Walker-Shaw said the British government should opt back in to the charter before EU heads of state meet in October. | European officer Kathleen Walker-Shaw said the British government should opt back in to the charter before EU heads of state meet in October. |
| She added that the GMB had not yet decided how it would campaign in the event of the government calling a referendum. | |
| But she went on to say it was unlikely the union would campaign for a treaty where workers would become second class citizens in Europe. | |
| Ms Walker-Shaw said: "The government's position is not acceptable. We are giving them the chance to change it." | Ms Walker-Shaw said: "The government's position is not acceptable. We are giving them the chance to change it." |
| 'Unreadable' | 'Unreadable' |
| She added: "We want a social Europe. What sort of message is this preaching to developing countries that we are telling to raise working standards, when a government in Europe won't even accept them for its own people?" | She added: "We want a social Europe. What sort of message is this preaching to developing countries that we are telling to raise working standards, when a government in Europe won't even accept them for its own people?" |
| 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." |
| But the government says a referendum is not needed as the treaty is different to the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. | But the government says a referendum is not needed as the treaty is different to the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. |
| Gary Titley, Labour's leader in the European Parliament, said: "It's a world of difference between what was proposed in the constitutional treaty and the amending treaty." | Gary Titley, Labour's leader in the European Parliament, said: "It's a world of difference between what was proposed in the constitutional treaty and the amending treaty." |
| He added that the EU was an ongoing "political process" which was designed to allow member states to "meet the challenges of globalisation". | He added that the EU was an ongoing "political process" which was designed to allow member states to "meet the challenges of globalisation". |
| 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". |
| Its leader, Nigel Farage, said it was "seriously good news" that unions were demanding a vote, adding: "Gordon Brown must be the only man in the country who doesn't realise that we have to have a referendum on this treaty. | Its leader, Nigel Farage, said it was "seriously good news" that unions were demanding a vote, adding: "Gordon Brown must be the only man in the country who doesn't realise that we have to have a referendum on this treaty. |
| "Every other political leader in the EU has said that this is the constitution in all but name, and the Labour Party was elected with a manifesto to hold a referendum on that document. | "Every other political leader in the EU has said that this is the constitution in all but name, and the Labour Party was elected with a manifesto to hold a referendum on that document. |
| "He is doing a rather splendid impression of an ostrich, surrounding himself with yes men who are trying to drown out the overwhelming calls for the British people to have their say." | "He is doing a rather splendid impression of an ostrich, surrounding himself with yes men who are trying to drown out the overwhelming calls for the British people to have their say." |