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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. Gordon Brown faces a battle to get the EU treaty through Parliament after it was agreed by EU 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". The prime minister ruled out a referendum saying he had already "safeguarded the national interest" with "red line" opt-outs in key areas.
The Tories say they will step up their campaign for a referendum and fight the treaty all the way in the Commons. But Tory leader David Cameron accused him of treating Britons "like fools" and pledged to fight for a referendum when MPs debate the treaty next year.
The treaty has to be ratified by all EU parliaments next year, before coming into effect in 2009. It has to be ratified by all EU states 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. Mr Brown said he wanted the "fullest possible Parliamentary debate" on the treaty.
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 told reporters earlier.
"I believe that debate will show that we have at all points defended the British national interest," he said. 'Confusing'
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. Mr Brown is understood to have set aside up to three months to ratify the treaty, and has briefed colleagues to expect a protracted battle starting in the New Year.
But he told BBC Two's Daily Politics there would be "substantial Parliamentary scrutiny" of the document. BBC News 24's chief political correspondent James Landale said Labour may be hoping a lengthy debate on the EU treaty will kill off demands for a referendum by making it "confusing to many people and they will switch off from it".
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. Gordon Brown has no democratic mandate to agree to this treaty without the British people having their say David Cameron, Conservative leader
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 leader The treaty deal was struck after late-night wrangling between the 27 heads of state and government over the number of Italian MEPs and Poland's voting strength in the reformed EU.
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. Mr Brown told reporters it would rule out further institutional change in Europe "for many years to come".
"I believe in Parliamentary democracy, I think our MPs should be the ones that scrutinise legislation," he said. He said EU leaders could now concentrate on discussion about jobs, prosperity, the environment and "how we can respond to the changing needs of the world economy in the interests of the citizens of Britain".
"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. UK opt outs in key areas like human rights, tax and benefits, foreign policy and justice - meant there was "no fundamental change" to British sovereignty, said Mr Brown.
"And that's why there should be a referendum when we are talking about these things." 'Brown promise'
Maastricht debate But David Cameron warned 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.
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. "Gordon Brown made a promise to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution.
Here in Lisbon we have agreed a treaty that makes the European Union a country Nigel Farage, UKIP leader "This treaty is almost exactly the same as the Constitution and they have broken their promise. We will fight for the referendum in the House of Commons and we will try to make sure he keeps his promise to the British people.
"They are just treating people like fools and they will suffer because of this, because they are breaking a really significant promise." He added: "Just about every MP in Parliament was elected on a promise to hold a referendum.
A country called Europe now exists once this treaty goes through Nigel FarageUKIP leader
"Gordon Brown has no democratic mandate to agree to this treaty without the British people having their say.
"We are keeping our promise - he should keep his."
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. Backbench rebellion
A number of 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'
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.
Rejected constitution
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. UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage called for a referendum on the whole question of British membership of the EU.
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. "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 BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
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.
"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.