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Brown to miss EU treaty ceremony Brown to miss EU treaty ceremony
(about 1 hour later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown will miss the official signing of the EU treaty, but will travel to Lisbon and sign it later, Downing Street has said.Prime Minister Gordon Brown will miss the official signing of the EU treaty, but will travel to Lisbon and sign it later, Downing Street has said.
No 10 says the PM will not be able to attend the ceremony because he is to be grilled by a committee of senior MPs.No 10 says the PM will not be able to attend the ceremony because he is to be grilled by a committee of senior MPs.
But arrangements have been made for Mr Brown to leave London straight after the Commons Liaison Committee hearing.But arrangements have been made for Mr Brown to leave London straight after the Commons Liaison Committee hearing.
He will miss the official signing event but will join EU heads of government at lunch and will sign the treaty later.He will miss the official signing event but will join EU heads of government at lunch and will sign the treaty later.
The EU Reform treaty has proved politically controversial, with the Tories arguing that it is substantially the same as the abandoned EU Constitution, on which a referendum was promised by Labour.The EU Reform treaty has proved politically controversial, with the Tories arguing that it is substantially the same as the abandoned EU Constitution, on which a referendum was promised by Labour.
Ratification neededRatification needed
But the government says the two documents are different, making a public vote on the treaty unnecessary.But the government says the two documents are different, making a public vote on the treaty unnecessary.
Mr Brown has been invited to Lisbon by the Portuguese government - which holds the EU presidency - along with the leaders of the other 26 EU member states. Tragically (sic), the cameras will not record the moment for posterity BBC political editor Nick Robinson class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2007/12/not_captured_fo.html">Read Nick's thoughts in full Mr Brown has been invited to Lisbon by the Portuguese government - which holds the EU presidency - along with the leaders of the other 26 EU member states.
The EU Constitution was thrown out in 2005 after it was rejected by Dutch and French voters.The EU Constitution was thrown out in 2005 after it was rejected by Dutch and French voters.
The treaty, once it is signed, still has to be ratified by the UK and all other member countries before coming into force.The treaty, once it is signed, still has to be ratified by the UK and all other member countries before coming into force.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband is expected to sign the treaty on the UK's behalf during the official signing ceremony on Thursday.Foreign Secretary David Miliband is expected to sign the treaty on the UK's behalf during the official signing ceremony on Thursday.