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| Battle begins on EU treaty debate | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MPs have begun a Commons battle over the amount of time they will have to debate the EU reform treaty. | |
| Many believed they would get 20 days for line-by-line scrutiny of the plans, but now they are being offered 12 days. | Many believed they would get 20 days for line-by-line scrutiny of the plans, but now they are being offered 12 days. |
| Opponents are pushing an amendment for more time to debate the bill which ratifies the controversial treaty. | Opponents are pushing an amendment for more time to debate the bill which ratifies the controversial treaty. |
| It comes as pro-referendum group Open Europe says it has leaked documents showing many of the powers being handed to Brussels have yet to be finalised. | It comes as pro-referendum group Open Europe says it has leaked documents showing many of the powers being handed to Brussels have yet to be finalised. |
| The debate - on how much time should be allocated to the European Union (Amendment) Bill - is expected to last more than six hours. | |
| For and against | For and against |
| MPs are due to be given different amounts of time each day to debate the bill - ranging from one and a half hours to discuss the measures on day two, to six hours during the bill's remaining stages in the Commons on day 12. | MPs are due to be given different amounts of time each day to debate the bill - ranging from one and a half hours to discuss the measures on day two, to six hours during the bill's remaining stages in the Commons on day 12. |
| Rebel Labour MPs are expected to push an amendment calling for time to debate UK opt-outs, while the Lib Dems are expected to demand a referendum on the wider issue of Britain's EU membership. | Rebel Labour MPs are expected to push an amendment calling for time to debate UK opt-outs, while the Lib Dems are expected to demand a referendum on the wider issue of Britain's EU membership. |
| MPs would effectively be signing a blank cheque to the EU if they ratify this treaty without a referendum Neil O'BrienOpen Europe | MPs would effectively be signing a blank cheque to the EU if they ratify this treaty without a referendum Neil O'BrienOpen Europe |
| The Tories and some Labour MPs are opposing the bill. The Labour and Lib Dem leaderships are in favour of the treaty. | |
| Mr Brown signed what is now known as the Lisbon Treaty in December but Parliament must ratify it. | Mr Brown signed what is now known as the Lisbon Treaty in December but Parliament must ratify it. |
| It replaces the EU Constitution, which was abandoned in 2005, but on which Labour had promised a referendum. | It replaces the EU Constitution, which was abandoned in 2005, but on which Labour had promised a referendum. |
| The government says a referendum is not needed for the new treaty as it does not have significant constitutional implications | The government says a referendum is not needed for the new treaty as it does not have significant constitutional implications |
| Opponents led by the Conservatives accuse Labour of breaking their promise by not holding a referendum on what they say is essentially the constitution under a new name. | Opponents led by the Conservatives accuse Labour of breaking their promise by not holding a referendum on what they say is essentially the constitution under a new name. |
| The debate comes as the Eurosceptic think-tank Open Europe claimed it had obtained a document that said Britain would not be able to stop any changes made after the treaty is approved. | The debate comes as the Eurosceptic think-tank Open Europe claimed it had obtained a document that said Britain would not be able to stop any changes made after the treaty is approved. |
| President Blair? | President Blair? |
| Director Neil O'Brien said: "Much of the Lisbon Treaty is about giving the EU the power to create new institutions and arrangements and to decide on how they will actually work in practice at a later date. | Director Neil O'Brien said: "Much of the Lisbon Treaty is about giving the EU the power to create new institutions and arrangements and to decide on how they will actually work in practice at a later date. |
| "Many of these crucial decisions will be made by majority voting, so the UK is unlikely to be able to stop any details it doesn't like the look of." | "Many of these crucial decisions will be made by majority voting, so the UK is unlikely to be able to stop any details it doesn't like the look of." |
| Tony Blair would be an excellent president. I don't know whether he wants the job. Gordon BrownUK prime minister | Tony Blair would be an excellent president. I don't know whether he wants the job. Gordon BrownUK prime minister |
| Open Europe says it is hoping to "embarrass" Mr Brown over his refusal to hold a referendum on the EU treaty, when he hosts a summit on the economy with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jose Barroso on Tuesday. | Open Europe says it is hoping to "embarrass" Mr Brown over his refusal to hold a referendum on the EU treaty, when he hosts a summit on the economy with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jose Barroso on Tuesday. |
| The protests come as speculation mounts that Tony Blair could become the first permanent president of Europe. | The protests come as speculation mounts that Tony Blair could become the first permanent president of Europe. |
| Mr Brown told BBC's Politics Show: "Tony Blair would be an excellent president. I don't know whether he wants the job. | Mr Brown told BBC's Politics Show: "Tony Blair would be an excellent president. I don't know whether he wants the job. |
| "It's really a matter for him. He hasn't said to anybody whether he wants the job or not and it really is a matter for the future. It's not a matter for me." | "It's really a matter for him. He hasn't said to anybody whether he wants the job or not and it really is a matter for the future. It's not a matter for me." |