Danes and Irish may get first say on UK-EU deal

PEOPLE in countries such as Ireland and Denmark could vote on a potential new deal between Britain and the European Union before those in the UK, a leading lawyer has suggested.

Christine O’Neill, Scotland’s leading public law expert, said David Cameron’s pledge to renegotiate the UK’s relationship with Europe raised “intriguing” questions over whether other EU nations could also be asked for their say.

Both Ireland and Denmark insist upon referendums to seal changes to EU treaties. Ms O’Neill, of Brodies LLP solicitors, said that if Mr Cameron insisted on a treaty change, such countries may end up being asked first.

They could have a vote on the actual treaty changes proposed, with voters in the UK having to wait until afterwards to vote “in or out”.

She said these citizens could exercise their power to approve or reject any treaty changes, and would “therefore have a direct role in setting the terms on which the UK’s in-out vote would proceed”.