MPs consider "in or out" referendum

Tuesday, 4 March 2008 12:00 AM

MPs have been asked whether the UK's future in the European Union should be put to a public vote.

After initially blocking the amendment, the speaker Michael Martin has put the Liberal Democrat's call for an "in or out" referendum on the EU to a Commons vote.

Last week Lib Dem MPs walked out of the House of Commons after their amendment calling for a public vote on the "real issue" of Europe was rejected.

Foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey had already been expelled from the chamber after branding the deputy speaker's decision "an outrage".

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has written to all Conservative MPs ahead of the Commons vote, urging them to support the debate.

Tomorrow MPs will also vote on a Conservative-led amendment calling for a referendum on the Lisbon treaty.

Mr Clegg said this was, however, a "smokescreen to avoid answering the real questions facing the Conservative party in Europe".

He wrote: "I believe strongly that Britain should be a full, active member of the
EU. Many Conservatives disagree with this. Surely it is right that this is the debate that engages the British people through a referendum, not the technicalities of a minor revising treaty.

"The government has rejected calls for a public vote, insisting it is not necessary because the EU treaty agreed last year is an amending treaty and not the constitution, upon which all major political parties promised to hold a referendum."

The Conservatives continue to press for a plebiscite, however, and yesterday campaigners from the I Want A Referendum pressure group scaled a crane near parliament.

With the Liberal Democrats reportedly split over the need for a referendum on the EU treaty, the Conservatives are hoping to pick up some liberal support for their amendment.

Tags:
• attitudes to europe
,
• eu british relations
,
• eu withdrawal
,
• europe
,
• foreign policy
,
• liberal democrats
,
• party politics