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MPs renew calls for EU referendum Commons battle due on EU treaty
(about 18 hours later)
Gordon Brown is facing renewed calls from rebel MPs for a referendum on the European Union treaty. The House of Commons is to begin what is expected to be up to 20 days' debate on whether to ratify the Lisbon Treaty.
The demands follow a report that said parts of the Lisbon Treaty mirrored the abandoned EU Constitution. Eighteen Labour and four nationalist MPs have signed an amendment calling for a referendum on the document - which the government has ruled out.
The Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said foreign policy in the treaty was the same as in the constitution, on which Labour promised a referendum. The demand follows a Commons foreign affairs committee report saying that parts of the treaty mirror the abandoned EU Constitution.
Labour MP Ian Davidson said it was "the start of the battle, rather than the end of the war". Most Tories support the amendment. The Lib Dems say they will abstain.
The Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has also accused the government of publicly downplaying the importance of some new EU institutions and roles. 'Battle'
Mr Davidson, who will campaign for a referendum, has 18 Labour MPs backing his amendment, but said he expected support to build over the coming months as the Bill progressed through Parliament. The government had promised a referendum on the constitution - which was thrown out by Dutch and French voters in 2005 - but argues that this is not necessary for the treaty, as it is different in character.
'Strong majority' Rebel Labour MP Ian Davidson called the Commons vote on the amendment "the start of the battle, rather than the end of the war".
The reform treaty is there for parliament to scrutinise and then to pass David MilibandForeign secretary Q&A: Lisbon TreatyAnalysis: Political battles
He added: "We hope to get our message out to people in the country who will in turn tell their MPs that they do want a referendum so that by the time we come to the next vote in the committee stage, the pressure will very much have built up."He added: "We hope to get our message out to people in the country who will in turn tell their MPs that they do want a referendum so that by the time we come to the next vote in the committee stage, the pressure will very much have built up."
The Conservatives are also expected to press for a referendum, but the Lib Dems will not be pushing for one, as they argue that any vote should be about Britain's membership of the EU instead. Ministers argue that no referendum is needed as the treaty merely amends the EU's existing constitution, rather than overwriting it - as the failed constitution would have done.
Ministers argue no referendum is needed as the treaty is not constitutional. Europe Minister Jim Murphy has dismissed claims that up to 100 Labour MPs are unhappy with the refusal to hold a public vote.
We'll see about the parliamentary mathematics of it, but that's cuckooland to say that there's 100 MPs on the Labour benches that are going to vote against Jim Murphy, Europe Minister 'MPs must decide'
Mr Brown has previously said no referendum in the UK is needed on the Lisbon Treaty because it does not have the constitutional character of the constitutional document which was rejected by French and Dutch voters at referendums in 2005. Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: "The reform treaty is there for parliament to scrutinise and then to pass.
Europe Minister Jim Murphy has dismissed claims that up to 100 Labour MPs were unhappy with the government's refusal to hold a referendum.
"I am confident that there will be a strong parliamentary majority for this treaty.
"We'll see about the parliamentary mathematics of it but that's cuckooland to say that there's 100 MPs on the Labour benches that are going to vote against."
In an interview on BBC One's Politics Show, Foreign Secretary David Miliband maintained the treaty did not need to be put to a public vote.
"The reform treaty is there for parliament to scrutinise and then to pass," he said.
"Obviously people will put down an amendment and Parliament will have to decide. But I don't believe that this treaty meets the bar of fundamental constitutional reform that should be the basis of having a referendum.""Obviously people will put down an amendment and Parliament will have to decide. But I don't believe that this treaty meets the bar of fundamental constitutional reform that should be the basis of having a referendum."
'Restoring trust' But shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the EU Reform Treaty - now widely known as the Lisbon Treaty - was widely seen as being "90% or 95% the same" as the failed EU constitution, on which all parties had promised a vote.
But shadow foreign secretary William Hague, speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend, said the treaty was widely seen as being "90% or 95% the same" as the failed EU constitution, on which all parties had promised a vote. There is no material difference between the provisions on foreign affairs in the Constitutional Treaty...and those in the Lisbon Treaty Foreign affairs committee class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6928737.stm">What are the arguments?
There is no material difference between the provisions on foreign affairs in the Constitutional Treaty...and those in the Lisbon Treaty Commons Foreign Affairs Committee
"I see it as a very straightforward issue of trust in politics. And one of the ways of restoring trust in politics is to hold that referendum," said Mr Hague."I see it as a very straightforward issue of trust in politics. And one of the ways of restoring trust in politics is to hold that referendum," said Mr Hague.
Mr Brown signed the Lisbon Treaty, as did other EU heads of state, in December. But it has to be ratified by all EU parliaments, before coming into force - something which begins in Westminster on Monday. The Lib Dems will abstain in the Commons vote on the referendum motion, as they argue the debate should be about Britain's membership of the EU instead.
But ahead of the start of the process, the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has criticised the way the government has represented the foreign policy aspects of the treaty. Party leader Nick Clegg said: "The argument over a referendum on the treaty is being used as a smokescreen to hide the real issue of whether we want to be part of the EU or not.
"The government has become terrified of making the case for Europe, whilst the Tories are using the debate over a treaty as an excuse to retreat into old-school euroscepticism."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown signed the treaty, as did other EU heads of state, in December. But it has to be ratified by all EU parliaments before coming into force.
The Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has criticised the way the government has represented the foreign policy aspects of the treaty.
Its report, entitled Foreign Policy Aspects Of The Treaty Of Lisbon, claims there are only two small differences in the area of foreign policy between the treaty and the abandoned constitution.Its report, entitled Foreign Policy Aspects Of The Treaty Of Lisbon, claims there are only two small differences in the area of foreign policy between the treaty and the abandoned constitution.
These were the addition of two non-legally binding declarations proposed by the UK and the change of the title Minister for Foreign Affairs to High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. These were the addition of two non legally binding declarations proposed by the UK and the change of the title Minister for Foreign Affairs to High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
"We conclude that there is no material difference between the provisions on foreign affairs in the Constitutional Treaty which the government made subject to approval in a referendum and those in the Lisbon Treaty on which a referendum is being denied," the report said."We conclude that there is no material difference between the provisions on foreign affairs in the Constitutional Treaty which the government made subject to approval in a referendum and those in the Lisbon Treaty on which a referendum is being denied," the report said.
'Not beneficial' 'Innovations'
It also accused the government of seeking to downplay the significance of new institutions, such as the creation of a new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security.It also accused the government of seeking to downplay the significance of new institutions, such as the creation of a new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security.
This was "unlikely to be beneficial to the UK's position in Europe", it said, and called on ministers to acknowledge their true significance in public.This was "unlikely to be beneficial to the UK's position in Europe", it said, and called on ministers to acknowledge their true significance in public.
Parliament has not been sufficiently involved in the negotiation and the drafting of these proposals last year Mike GapesCommittee chairman
The report welcomed the creation of such new roles, which it said were "major innovations in the EU's foreign policy-making machinery" which could give the EU a "more coherent development and implementation of external policy".The report welcomed the creation of such new roles, which it said were "major innovations in the EU's foreign policy-making machinery" which could give the EU a "more coherent development and implementation of external policy".
But Mike Gapes, the committee's chairman, said MPs felt Parliament needed to have more say in the treaty's development.But Mike Gapes, the committee's chairman, said MPs felt Parliament needed to have more say in the treaty's development.
"Parliament has not been sufficiently involved in the negotiation and the drafting of these proposals last year," he told the BBC."Parliament has not been sufficiently involved in the negotiation and the drafting of these proposals last year," he told the BBC.
"We believe that over the next few weeks [in] the Parliamentary debate we have, we need to press for greater Parliamentary accountability over the implementation and the carrying out of this treaty in practice in the coming years, if it is adopted.""We believe that over the next few weeks [in] the Parliamentary debate we have, we need to press for greater Parliamentary accountability over the implementation and the carrying out of this treaty in practice in the coming years, if it is adopted."
Giving his reaction to the Foreign Affairs Committee report, UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who has opposed the constitution in the European Parliament, said there was now "no reason for the government to duck out of their pledge". UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage said there was now "no reason for the government to duck out of their pledge" to hold a referendum.