No Lisbon vote despite changes

Published on Thursday 2 July 2009 21:51

FOREIGN Secretary David Miliband said yesterday that proposed changes – granting Ireland opt-outs on abortion, tax and military neutrality – to the disputed Lisbon Treaty on greater European Union integration would not mean Britain must ratify it again.

He denied that the concessions to Ireland were a "stitch-up" by other EU member states desperate to encourage the Irish people to drop their opposition to the treaty when they vote in a second referendum in October.

The British people were not given a chance to vote directly on the Lisbon Treaty, which creates the posts of "President of Europe" and EU foreign minister, when Labour failed to honour a manifesto pledge to hold a referendum on the issue.

Instead, the UK government secured parliamentary approval for the treaty. The Tories have promised to hold a referendum if the treaty has not been ratified by all 27 nations before they come to power – which would almost certainly result in a "no" vote in Britain.

Last month, EU leaders agreed a protocol should be drawn up to prevent treaty affecting Irish constitutional provisions on the right to life, education, tax and military neutrality.

Mr Miliband, told MPs on the European scrutiny committee: "This decision on this protocol in no way changes one jot of the Lisbon Treaty as it affects Britain and as it was passed by this parliament."

He said the leaders of all member states agreed that re-ratification was not necessary.