The House of Commons debate and vote on whether to hold a referendum on the EU treaty will take place later today.
The Conservatives are calling for the electorate to be allowed their say on the Lisbon Treaty but Labour MPs have been told to oppose it.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has told his MPs to abstain.
The Conservative bid is backed by the SNP and Plaid Cymru in the Commons along with some Lib Dem and Labour MPs.
The Conservatives argue that the treaty amounts to an EU constitution. They say the major parties should honour their election promises to hold a referendum on the constitution but the government says the treaty is very different.
Wednesday’s vote in the House of Commons is seen as the key stage in the progress of the treaty through Parliament.
The Lisbon Treaty would bring a number of changes to the EU, including the removal of national vetoes in a number of areas.
6 Comments
The EU = DICTATORSHIP !!
This is good..voting on whether they should be allowed to..vote. The EU is a dictatorship - Britain needs a British constitution (a proper one), establishing and protecting the rights of the majority, not a dictatorship out of control and one that places the interests of private corporations above those of the people.
How Clegg and his Lib Dem ‘abstainers’ can look at themselves in the mirror is beyond me. They should be ashamed of themselves for not only betraying their manifesto commitment (like New Labour), but then trying to muddy the waters by demanding an ‘in or out’ vote on the EU itself. With this move, the Lib Dem have plumbed the depth of even their reputation for cynicism and opportunism - something only partially redeemed by those brave Lib Dem MPs who are holding out a referendum, as the party promised.
Leaders now are like a bunch of wet rags and make the wets who confronted Maggie in the 1980’s look like Churchillian lions in comparison. I heard the news today and admire the three LIB-DEMS who resigned !!!
Bring back Jeremy Thorpe I say !!!!
Well come on! You didnt really think they’d let US have a vote did you? I can see Britain just slipping through our fingers… The way its going we wont have any say on anything - we are almost on our knees as it is as far as I’m concerned! So I’ll say again - use your next vote - if we ever get one! haha very wisely! I’m sad to say there is nothing Great about Britain these day - especially if youre actually British! How sad is that? And dont even start me on the proms! What is she on about??? Stoopid woman!
Actually everyone - just google ‘The lisbon treaty, go to ‘europa’ heading and read the ‘treaty’ at a glance, its the biggest sales pitch i’ve ever heard for a product they cannot deliver!