UK NEWS

CRUCIAL EU TREATY POLL ‘ON KNIFE EDGE’

WARNING: William Hague

Tuesday March 4,2008

By Macer Hall

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(8)

SENIOR Tory William Hague last night warned that this week’s crucial Commons showdown over the EU is balanced “on a knife edge”.

MPs vote tomorrow on whether to hold a referendum on the controversial Lisbon Reform Treaty, widely regarded as a major surrender to Brussels.

It is being seen as the biggest test of Gordon Brown’s authority so far – and Shadow Foreign Secretary Mr Hague claimed that supporters of a referendum could snatch a surprise victory.

He speculated that many Lib Dem MPs could side with Labour rebels and the Tories to deal the Prime Minister a potentially devastating defeat.

“They are in a pivotal position,” said Mr Hague. “The Lib Dems can make all the difference if they wish to.” If a significant number of Lib Dems switch, “we would have a knife-edge vote,” he added.

He also forecast that an alliance of Tory and Lib Dem peers could bring “massive problems” for Mr Brown by blocking the treaty in the Lords for over a year.

Mr Hague further savaged the Government for restricting Parliamentary debate on the Lisbon Treaty. He said ministers had promised “line by line” scrutiny.

But in reality they had allowed 45 seconds of Parliamentary time for looking at major changes to Europe’s criminal justice and immigration systems. Mr Brown is refusing to hold a referendum even though Labour previously promised a poll over the strikingly similar EU Constitution.

But opponents hope to amend the treaty legislation to ensure a referendum takes place.

Dozens of Labour MPs are expected to back the referendum call, despite the Government’s opposition.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has promised to support the Government, but a growing number of his MPs are understood to be ready to rebel.

lTwo demonstrators yesterday occupied a crane towering above Parliament Square as part of the campaign for a referendum on the treaty.

BROWN WILL GAMBLE

04.03.08, 6:47pm

THAT THE ENGLISH WILL NOT GET OFF THIER INDIFERENT FAT ARSES AND MEEKLY ACCEPT THE DISINTEGRATION OF ENGLAND INTO REGIONS .

AND THAT HE HAS IMPORTED ENOUGH LABOUR VOTERS IN, GIVEN THEM JOBS AND HOUSING, ALSO BENEFITS AT OUR EXPENSE SO KEEPING HIS STALINIST CONTROL

• Posted by: JackDoff • Report Comment

WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LIB DEMS!

04.03.08, 12:58pm

At last, a time when a mediocre party can actually DO something to raise it's stature in the eyes of the nation.

Step forward you rebel MP's. Rise to the challenge and de-rail this headlong NewLabour rush into the Federation of Europe.

You will be the hero's of millions of true democratic Brits who have been denied the chance of true democratic debate on this major issue.

You could go down in history as the party that bought NuLabours master plan to a shuddering halt!

• Posted by: tinhead • Report Comment

CRUCIAL EU TREATY POLL ‘ON KNIFE EDGE’

04.03.08, 11:17am

Reneging on manifesto promises is something that Labour is good at. They promised oversize glasses so we could have a full pint of beer and then quietly ditched it. Wetherspoons had these glasses in their pubs in anticipation of the new legislation but got rid of them when no legislation was forthcoming and their rivals were continuing to use the under size measure. I wonder what they got paid for that.

• Posted by: JohnnyB • Report Comment

GIVE THEM A FREE VOTE

04.03.08, 10:04am

The Lib Dems and Labour both promised us a Euro referendum in ther manifestos so Brown and Clegg should both withdraw their party whips and allow a free vote. If all MP's were allowed to vote with their conscience we would be GUARANTED a referendum on the EU treaty.

• Posted by: Peter_Pan • Report Comment

A VOTE ON THE EU TREATY IS OUR RIGHT.

04.03.08, 9:32am

This is supposed to be a DEMOCRACY, there should be no if's or buts. It is OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT to have a say.

• Posted by: Jac16 • Report Comment

WILL THE LIB DEMS PUT COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY?

04.03.08, 9:00am

With Labour the worst government in living memory and the Tories making no progress because of milk-and-water Cameron, the Lib Dems could make a big break through. Here is a promise: I will vote Lib Dem in the next election but only if they vote in parliament for a referendum. This is the biggest issue to come before this parliament and the Lib Dems should keep their promise and vote for a referendum. If they vote with Labour and deprive us of a rererendum, they will never be forgiven and I will never, ever vote for them again.

• Posted by: voter • Report Comment