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Commons battle looms on EU treaty Commons battle looms on EU treaty
(about 2 hours later)
Ministers face a battle to get the EU treaty through Parliament after it was agreed by European leaders in Lisbon.Ministers face a battle to get the EU treaty through Parliament after it was agreed by European leaders in Lisbon.
Gordon Brown says he has secured a deal which protects the national interest but Tory leader David Cameron say he is treating Britons "like fools".Gordon Brown says he has secured a deal which protects the national interest but Tory leader David Cameron say he is treating Britons "like fools".
The Tories say they will step up their campaign for a referendum and fight the treaty all the way in the Commons.The Tories say they will step up their campaign for a referendum and fight the treaty all the way in the Commons.
The treaty has to be ratified by all EU parliaments next year, before coming into effect in 2009.The treaty has to be ratified by all EU parliaments next year, before coming into effect in 2009.
The Times reported that the prime minister has set aside up to three months to ratify the treaty, and had briefed colleagues to expect a protracted battle starting in the New Year.The Times reported that the prime minister has set aside up to three months to ratify the treaty, and had briefed colleagues to expect a protracted battle starting in the New Year.
The prime minister said he was happy for the "fullest possible Parliamentary debate".
"I believe that debate will show that we have at all points defended the British national interest," he said.
Labour's chief whip Geoff Hoon said the government had not decided the "precise number of days" MPs would be given to debate the treaty.Labour's chief whip Geoff Hoon said the government had not decided the "precise number of days" MPs would be given to debate the treaty.
But he told BBC Two's Daily Politics there would be "substantial Parliamentary scrutiny" of the document.But he told BBC Two's Daily Politics there would be "substantial Parliamentary scrutiny" of the document.
The government says its "red lines" - which it says are opt outs on key areas like human rights, tax and benefits, foreign policy and justice - will mean there is no significant transfer of power to Brussels.The government says its "red lines" - which it says are opt outs on key areas like human rights, tax and benefits, foreign policy and justice - will mean there is no significant transfer of power to Brussels.
'Significant transfer'
Speaking in the early hours, after an agreement was reached on the new treaty at an EU summit in Lisbon, Mr Brown said: "The red lines have been secured. The British national interest has been protected."
They are just treating people like fools and they will suffer because of this, because they are breaking a really significant promise David Cameron, Conservative leaderThey are just treating people like fools and they will suffer because of this, because they are breaking a really significant promise David Cameron, Conservative leader
He said it was "now time for Europe to move on and devote all our effort to the issues that matter to the peoples of Europe," such as economic growth and environmental protection. Mr Cameron told BBC Breakfast the treaty would mean a "significant transfer of power" to Brussels and he believed it should be put to the public, rather than just being scrutinised by MPs.
But Mr Cameron told BBC Breakfast the treaty would mean a "significant transfer of power" to Brussels and he believed it should be put to the public, rather than just being scrutinised by MPs.
"I believe in Parliamentary democracy, I think our MPs should be the ones that scrutinise legislation," he said."I believe in Parliamentary democracy, I think our MPs should be the ones that scrutinise legislation," he said.
"But when it comes to the question of how we are governed as a country, who runs the country, I don't think members of Parliament have the right to transfer that power away without asking the British people first."But when it comes to the question of how we are governed as a country, who runs the country, I don't think members of Parliament have the right to transfer that power away without asking the British people first.
"And that's why there should be a referendum when we are talking about these things.""And that's why there should be a referendum when we are talking about these things."
Maastricht debateMaastricht debate
He said that most EU leaders believed the treaty was "pretty much the same" as the EU constitution - on which the Labour government had promised a referendum, before it was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.He said that most EU leaders believed the treaty was "pretty much the same" as the EU constitution - on which the Labour government had promised a referendum, before it was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.
Here in Lisbon we have agreed a treaty that makes the European Union a country Nigel Farage, UKIP leaderHere in Lisbon we have agreed a treaty that makes the European Union a country Nigel Farage, UKIP leader
"They are just treating people like fools and they will suffer because of this, because they are breaking a really significant promise.""They are just treating people like fools and they will suffer because of this, because they are breaking a really significant promise."
Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said he "fully expects" there to be a vote on whether to hold a referendum when MPs debate the treaty.Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said he "fully expects" there to be a vote on whether to hold a referendum when MPs debate the treaty.
Several Labour MPs - including former Europe Minister Keith Vaz and former minister Gisela Stuart, who helped draw up the original constitution - also want a referendum, setting up the prospect of a backbench rebellion.Several Labour MPs - including former Europe Minister Keith Vaz and former minister Gisela Stuart, who helped draw up the original constitution - also want a referendum, setting up the prospect of a backbench rebellion.
The Conservatives are also expected to use every Parliamentary tactic at their disposal to block the ratification process, in a repeat of debates on the Maastricht treaty 15 years ago.The Conservatives are also expected to use every Parliamentary tactic at their disposal to block the ratification process, in a repeat of debates on the Maastricht treaty 15 years ago.
'No debate''No debate'
The Liberal Democrats are likely to vote with the government on the question of a referendum - although much will depend on their new leader, who will be elected in December.The Liberal Democrats are likely to vote with the government on the question of a referendum - although much will depend on their new leader, who will be elected in December.
Nick Clegg, favourite at the bookmakers to land the job, said he did not want a referendum, as the reform treaty was a "modest" document compared to previous EU treaties.Nick Clegg, favourite at the bookmakers to land the job, said he did not want a referendum, as the reform treaty was a "modest" document compared to previous EU treaties.
Earlier in the Commons, the Tories fired the opening salvo in their battle against ratification, with former minister Christopher Chope accusing Mr Brown of "selling out" British interests and calling for an immediate prime ministerial statement.Earlier in the Commons, the Tories fired the opening salvo in their battle against ratification, with former minister Christopher Chope accusing Mr Brown of "selling out" British interests and calling for an immediate prime ministerial statement.
Deputy speaker Sylvia Heal said it was "entirely" up to the government whether they chose to make a statement to the Commons or not. Mr Brown is due to address MPs on Monday.Deputy speaker Sylvia Heal said it was "entirely" up to the government whether they chose to make a statement to the Commons or not. Mr Brown is due to address MPs on Monday.
UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has, meanwhile, repeated his call for a referendum on the whole question of British membership of the EU.UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has, meanwhile, repeated his call for a referendum on the whole question of British membership of the EU.
"It is over 30 years since the British people were asked. When they were asked in '75, they were told that we could be part of a European Community that was about free trade and friendship," he told Today."It is over 30 years since the British people were asked. When they were asked in '75, they were told that we could be part of a European Community that was about free trade and friendship," he told Today.
"Well, here in Lisbon we have agreed a treaty that makes the European Union a country. A country called Europe now exists once this treaty goes through - there is no legal debate or argument about that.""Well, here in Lisbon we have agreed a treaty that makes the European Union a country. A country called Europe now exists once this treaty goes through - there is no legal debate or argument about that."
EU governments are due to formally sign the reform treaty - which has been negotiated over two years since the constitution was rejected - in December.EU governments are due to formally sign the reform treaty - which has been negotiated over two years since the constitution was rejected - in December.
Over the next 12 months it would then be ratified by the individual parliaments, to come into effect on 1 January 2009.Over the next 12 months it would then be ratified by the individual parliaments, to come into effect on 1 January 2009.