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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| MPs protest over EU treaty debate | MPs protest over EU treaty debate |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The government has faced protests as MPs began detailed debate on the bill to ratify the Lisbon EU Treaty. | The government has faced protests as MPs began detailed debate on the bill to ratify the Lisbon EU Treaty. |
| Ministers have set aside 12 days for debate on the EU (Amendment) Bill, but opposition parties are pushing for 18 days to allow more scrutiny. | Ministers have set aside 12 days for debate on the EU (Amendment) Bill, but opposition parties are pushing for 18 days to allow more scrutiny. |
| In the Commons Europe Minister Jim Murphy said the government had adopted a "structured, themed approach". | In the Commons Europe Minister Jim Murphy said the government had adopted a "structured, themed approach". |
| But shadow foreign secretary William Hague said ministers' actions were "cynical" and "lacking in openness". | But shadow foreign secretary William Hague said ministers' actions were "cynical" and "lacking in openness". |
| A vote on the amount of time to be set aside for debating the bill is due at about 2200 GMT. | A vote on the amount of time to be set aside for debating the bill is due at about 2200 GMT. |
| The Tories and some Labour MPs say there should be a referendum on whether the UK adopts the treaty, while the Lib Dems want one on whether the country stays in the EU. | The Tories and some Labour MPs say there should be a referendum on whether the UK adopts the treaty, while the Lib Dems want one on whether the country stays in the EU. |
| 'Hiding' | 'Hiding' |
| The government says this is not needed as the document does not have significant constitutional implications. | The government says this is not needed as the document does not have significant constitutional implications. |
| During the debate Mr Hague said the government had pledged plenty of time for line-by-line scrutiny of the legislation - but just 45 seconds was available for each line. | During the debate Mr Hague said the government had pledged plenty of time for line-by-line scrutiny of the legislation - but just 45 seconds was available for each line. |
| He added: "Ministers, it seems, are engaged not only in trying to hide from Parliament the extent of what they have agreed to, but they are also engaged in hiding from Parliament the extent of what they have not yet agreed to but intend to sign up to once these debates are out of the way." | He added: "Ministers, it seems, are engaged not only in trying to hide from Parliament the extent of what they have agreed to, but they are also engaged in hiding from Parliament the extent of what they have not yet agreed to but intend to sign up to once these debates are out of the way." |
| We aim to guarantee that Parliament can scrutinise the Lisbon treaty Jim MurphyEurope minister | We aim to guarantee that Parliament can scrutinise the Lisbon treaty Jim MurphyEurope minister |
| Mr Hague also said: "There could not be a more cynical approach to the conduct of government policy, deeply lacking in openness, transparency or honesty. | |
| "The government's concern throughout has not been to listen either to the British public or the British Parliament, but to do its best to exclude both from any decision making about Europe at all." | "The government's concern throughout has not been to listen either to the British public or the British Parliament, but to do its best to exclude both from any decision making about Europe at all." |
| Lib Dem spokesman Simon Hughes insisted the timetable was even alienating supporters of the legislation. | Lib Dem spokesman Simon Hughes insisted the timetable was even alienating supporters of the legislation. |
| He added: "The modernising tendencies of the government wanting to do something good in terms of procedure have been overridden by the old tendency ... of the Stalin in Number 10 and his friends wanting to be very authoritarian about the timetable of this bill." | He added: "The modernising tendencies of the government wanting to do something good in terms of procedure have been overridden by the old tendency ... of the Stalin in Number 10 and his friends wanting to be very authoritarian about the timetable of this bill." |
| Senior Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody said the treaty's transfer of powers from the Commons to European institutions on transport issues was not even mentioned in the government's daily subject headings for debate. | Senior Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody said the treaty's transfer of powers from the Commons to European institutions on transport issues was not even mentioned in the government's daily subject headings for debate. |
| And Labour former minister Frank Field said some on his side felt a "certain apprehension" at the government's approach. | And Labour former minister Frank Field said some on his side felt a "certain apprehension" at the government's approach. |
| But Mr Murphy said the issues could be raised during debates on the single market and EU institutions. | But Mr Murphy said the issues could be raised during debates on the single market and EU institutions. |
| 'Clear' | 'Clear' |
| He told MPs: "We aim to guarantee that Parliament can scrutinise the Lisbon treaty." | He told MPs: "We aim to guarantee that Parliament can scrutinise the Lisbon treaty." |
| Mr Murphy added: "The government tabled this motion to ensure that those inside and outside the House have a clear timetable which sets out when important issues relating to the treaty will be considered." | Mr Murphy added: "The government tabled this motion to ensure that those inside and outside the House have a clear timetable which sets out when important issues relating to the treaty will be considered." |
| He added that 12 days was equivalent to the combined time given to the treaties establishing the Single European Act, the Amsterdam Treaty and the Treaty of Nice. | He added that 12 days was equivalent to the combined time given to the treaties establishing the Single European Act, the Amsterdam Treaty and the Treaty of Nice. |
| Under the government's timetable there will be separate debates on issues like cross-border crime and justice; energy; human rights; climate change and the single market. | Under the government's timetable there will be separate debates on issues like cross-border crime and justice; energy; human rights; climate change and the single market. |
| The opposition wants more time for further debates on issues like the Charter of Fundamental Rights and provisions concerning national Parliaments. | The opposition wants more time for further debates on issues like the Charter of Fundamental Rights and provisions concerning national Parliaments. |
| Signing | Signing |
| 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. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown signed the treaty in December but Parliament must ratify it. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown signed the 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. |
| 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 government argues that the two documents are very different and that Parliament should scrutinise the treaty. | The government argues that the two documents are very different and that Parliament should scrutinise the treaty. |
| The Commons debate comes as Mr Brown is due to host an economic summit in Downing Street on Tuesday with the leaders of France, Germany and Italy. | The Commons debate comes as Mr Brown is due to host an economic summit in Downing Street on Tuesday with the leaders of France, Germany and Italy. |