No Tory EU referendum?
David Cameron to tell voters: no vote on Lisbon Treaty
David Cameron is to tell the British people that a Conservative government will not give them a referendum on the European Union’s Lisbon Treaty.
By James Kirkup, Political Correspondent
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6488240/David-Cameron-to-tell-voters-no-vote-on-Lisbon-Treaty.html
The Tory party leader’s admission, which could come as early as Tuesday, will bring accusations that he has broken clear promises to grant a popular vote on the treaty.
Mr Cameron gave voters an “iron-clad” promise in 2007 that a Conservative government would hold a popular vote on Lisbon.
And, in May this year, he said: "A progressive reform agenda demands that we redistribute power from the EU to Britain and from judges to the people. We will therefore hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty."
But today Mr Cameron gave his clearest signal yet that he will not hold a popular vote on the treaty, which creates the post of EU president and ends more than 50 British vetoes over European policy.
Mr Cameron said that once the document is endorsed by all 27 EU members and comes into force, it will “not be a treaty” and will instead be part of European law.
The last obstacle to the ratification of the treaty is likely to be removed today when the constitutional court in the Czech Republic rules that the treaty is compatible with the country's laws.
Once the Czech court approves the Treaty, all that remains is for Vaclav Klaus, the Czech President, to sign it.
Mr Klaus has repeatedly tried to block the treaty, but has now said he is prepared to sign it.
Mr Cameron has publicly urged him to hold out, but yesterday he said: "I had always hoped that President Klaus wouldn't sign but it seems that times are changing."
Tory sources said the Conservative leader could now formally abandon the referendum pledge today, even before the Czech leader signs.
“We have to realistic and once the Czech court rules, we will have to accept the new reality. We might not wait for Klaus,” said a Conservative source.
But last night Mr Cameron's suggestion that no referendum would be possible on a ratified treaty antagonised some Tory Eurosceptics and could anger voters who believed a Conservative Government would give them a vote.
In 2007, a Daily Telegraph campaign demanding a referendum gathered more than 100,000 signatures.
Speaking at a press conference in London today, Mr Cameron gave his signal that the Czech ratification of the treaty would change his policy.
Asked to repeat his “cast iron” promise, Mr Cameron declined. Instead, he accepted that its ratification will mean a UK vote is no longer possible.
“We want to have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty but clearly it seems we are getting closer to the point where the treaty is not going to be a treaty but becomes part of European law,” he said.
Lawyers and other European governments say that a British referendum on a ratified treaty would become a vote on the UK’s entire membership of the EU. Mr Cameron has publicly ruled out any “in-or-out” vote on Europe.
Senior Tories say that instead of a referendum on Lisbon, the Tories will now seek to renegotiate several of the changes it implements.
A Tory source said: “It is clear that a post-ratification referendum is simply not possible. We will look at the parts of the treaty that are not acceptable and seek to renegotiate them.”
Some Conservative opponents of European integration say that plan is enough for them.
David Heathcote Amory, a Eurosceptic MP, said he accepted Mr Cameron’s reasoning: “You cannot have a referendum on something that doesn’t exist. I accept that and I shall wait to see what my leader proposes next.”
But several others said they still expect Mr Cameron to honour his “iron-clad” promise and hold a referendum on the treaty regardless.
Bill Cash, another leading Eurosceptic MP, said: “We need a full referendum on Lisbon as we were promised. No ifs or buts. This is about the Government of the UK operating in line with the democratic wishes of the electorate.”
Barry Legg, of the sceptic Bruges Group, said: “David Cameron needs to come clean with the British people: why is he breaking his pledge to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty? How can David Cameron claim he’ll fight to repatriate powers from Brussels when he won’t even fight to implement his own past words?
Opponents of the treaty from other parties also attacked Mr Cameron.
Nigel Farage, the UK Independence Party leader, said: "We can now see how gutless and dishonest the Conservative Party has been about their intentions on a referendum.”
Ian Davidson, a Labour MP who opposes the treaty said: “Those who capitulate and change their position once it is ratified betray the interests of the British people.”
The ratification of Lisbon will allow the appointment of a new EU president. Gordon Brown is pushing for Tony Blair to get the job, although other EU leaders are resisting.
In the Commons today, Mr Cameron mocked Mr Brown over his campaign, telling him: “When considering your efforts to get Tony Blair this job, won't most people in Britain feel this: it is completely unacceptable to see an unelected Prime Minister pushing for an unelected president under a treaty that no one was allowed to vote for?"
Mr Brown responded by mocking Mr Cameron over his “iron-clad” promise and saying his renegotiation plan would be “fighting yesterday’s battles”.
