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Brown under fire over EU treaty Miliband EU treaty flight delayed
(about 2 hours later)
The Tories have accused Gordon Brown of running scared because a diary clash will see him miss the official signing of the new EU reform treaty in Lisbon. David Miliband's flight to Lisbon - where he is due to sign the EU reform treaty for the UK - has been delayed by two hours, the Foreign Office has said.
It is designed to replace the abandoned EU constitution, on which Labour had promised a referendum, but critics say the treaty is the same in substance. But officials say they are confident the foreign secretary will be in time for the official signing ceremony and photograph, due shortly after 1200 GMT.
The Tories earlier accused Gordon Brown of running scared because a diary clash will see him miss the ceremony.
The treaty is designed to replace the abandoned EU constitution.
Labour had promised a referendum on the constitution but critics say the treaty is the same in substance.
The Tories said the prime minister was "gutless", "indecisive" and had broken election promises on a referendum.The Tories said the prime minister was "gutless", "indecisive" and had broken election promises on a referendum.
The government says the documents are different so no vote is needed.The government says the documents are different so no vote is needed.
The PM is set to be grilled by MPs on the Commons liaison committee at the same time as the ceremony in the Portuguese capital. The PM is currently being grilled by MPs on the Commons liaison committee - which is why he said he would not be able to make the ceremony in the Portuguese capital Lisbon.
'Dithering''Dithering'
He will later join EU leaders for lunch and sign the treaty. But he will fly later to join EU leaders for lunch and sign the treaty himself.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said Mr Brown's signature on the "renamed EU constitution will not have the British people's democratic support".Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said Mr Brown's signature on the "renamed EU constitution will not have the British people's democratic support".
Gordon Brown has even managed to turn something as simple as signing the EU treaty into a national embarrassment William HagueShadow foreign secretaryGordon Brown has even managed to turn something as simple as signing the EU treaty into a national embarrassment William HagueShadow foreign secretary
"British voters were promised a referendum on the EU constitution and just about everyone agrees that this treaty is in substance the same."British voters were promised a referendum on the EU constitution and just about everyone agrees that this treaty is in substance the same.
"Gordon Brown has even managed to turn something as simple as signing the EU treaty into a national embarrassment.""Gordon Brown has even managed to turn something as simple as signing the EU treaty into a national embarrassment."
He said Mr Brown had "dithered" over the signing ceremony, and accused him of "indecision, gutlessness and broken election promises".He said Mr Brown had "dithered" over the signing ceremony, and accused him of "indecision, gutlessness and broken election promises".
'Still a constitution''Still a constitution'
Mr Hague's attack was followed by a warning from Labour MPs on the Commons foreign affairs committee that ministers were failing to convince the public there was no need for a referendum.Mr Hague's attack was followed by a warning from Labour MPs on the Commons foreign affairs committee that ministers were failing to convince the public there was no need for a referendum.
Labour's Fabian Hamilton said: "The problem we have is that much of this Lisbon treaty is very, very different to the constitution on which we guaranteed a referendum.Labour's Fabian Hamilton said: "The problem we have is that much of this Lisbon treaty is very, very different to the constitution on which we guaranteed a referendum.
"But that is not the public perception.""But that is not the public perception."
At the moment we are punching below our weight Peter MandelsonEU trade commissionerAt the moment we are punching below our weight Peter MandelsonEU trade commissioner
Lib Dem MP Richard Younger-Ross said: "This is still a constitution, even though it is by a different name and a different structure."Lib Dem MP Richard Younger-Ross said: "This is still a constitution, even though it is by a different name and a different structure."
Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who is expected to sign the treaty on the UK's behalf during the official signing ceremony, said: "We must deal with the reality, not the perception. The reality is the treaty is not the constitution." David Miliband, who is still expected to sign the treaty on the UK's behalf during the official signing ceremony, said: "We must deal with the reality, not the perception. The reality is the treaty is not the constitution."
And EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson said it would allow the EU to play a bigger role on the world stage: "There are continental-sized powers we either want to engage with or square up to, whether it be China, India or the US - and at the moment we are punching below our weight.And EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson said it would allow the EU to play a bigger role on the world stage: "There are continental-sized powers we either want to engage with or square up to, whether it be China, India or the US - and at the moment we are punching below our weight.
"We are not taken as seriously as we could be and will be as a result of this reform treaty.""We are not taken as seriously as we could be and will be as a result of this reform treaty."
EU presidentEU president
The new treaty is planned to replace the failed EU constitution, rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005.The new treaty is planned to replace the failed EU constitution, rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005.
It will greatly alter the way members govern themselves, BBC correspondents say. It creates an EU president and a vastly more powerful foreign policy chief for the union's 27 nations.It will greatly alter the way members govern themselves, BBC correspondents say. It creates an EU president and a vastly more powerful foreign policy chief for the union's 27 nations.
At the same time the document scraps veto powers in many policy areas.At the same time the document scraps veto powers in many policy areas.
Once it is signed, the treaty still has to be ratified by the UK and all other member countries before coming into force.Once it is signed, the treaty still has to be ratified by the UK and all other member countries before coming into force.
Both Mr Brown and his predecessor Tony Blair, have said the new treaty protects Britain's so-called red line issues on human and social rights, foreign policy and tax and benefits.Both Mr Brown and his predecessor Tony Blair, have said the new treaty protects Britain's so-called red line issues on human and social rights, foreign policy and tax and benefits.
The prime minister's spokesman said Mr Brown's lack of presence for the ceremony was "not a particularly significant issue" as previous EU treaties had been signed by foreign secretaries on behalf of the UK.The prime minister's spokesman said Mr Brown's lack of presence for the ceremony was "not a particularly significant issue" as previous EU treaties had been signed by foreign secretaries on behalf of the UK.