Hague calls for legal right to EU referendum
Speaking at the Conservative conference today, former leader William Hague demanded the public be given the right to vote on the EU treaty.
Tuesday, 02, Oct 2007 12:00
The Conservatives want to make it illegal for any government to transfer powers to the European Union without public backing.
As they continue to pile the pressure on the government to hold a referendum on the forthcoming EU treaty, the Conservatives said today they would amend the law to ensure all future treaties are subject to a public vote.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the next Conservative government will amend the 1972 European Communities Act, so any future treaty that transfers competences from Britain to the EU must be put to a referendum before it is ratified.
He told Conservative delegates in Blackpool: "As we campaign for the referendum the people of our country were solemnly promised, we are fighting not only for them to have their say now but for them always to have their say; to extend their power over their own lives not just for today but permanently into the future."
To enthusiastic applause, Mr Hague also vowed the Conservatives would hold a referendum on the forthcoming EU treaty, however it emerges from discussions.
With the possibility of a snap election as early as next month, it is no longer unfeasible the Conservative party could find themselves as the government charged with ratifying the treaty.
Gordon Brown insists the treaty as agreed in June respects the UK's 'redlines' and does not need to be put to a constitution.
However, Mr Hague told the Conservative conference today "nearly every" EU leader admits the EU treaty is the rejected constitution by another name.
The Conservatives are positioning the treaty debate to undermine Mr Brown's claim to be restoring trust to politics.
Mr Hague said Labour promised a referendum on the constitution. He argued the prime minister now has no democratic right to surrender the rights and powers of Britons under such a similar treaty.
He also attacked the Liberal Democrats for backing down on their promise to hold a referendum. Menzies Campbell no says the government should hold a full debate on the UK's membership of the EU.
The shadow foreign secretary argued the proposed treaty would abolish 60 of the UK's national vetoes, create a permanent President of the European Council and an EU foreign minister in all but name."
He told delegates: "The attempt to portray this treaty as fundamentally different from the EU constitution, when 240 of the 250 provisions are exactly the same, is one of the most bare-faced and deliberate misrepresentations in the modern annals of political deceit."