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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cameron to set out treaty plans | Cameron to set out treaty plans |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron has said he is "disappointed" by the Czech constitutional court's decision to push ahead with ratifying the Lisbon Treaty. | Conservative leader David Cameron has said he is "disappointed" by the Czech constitutional court's decision to push ahead with ratifying the Lisbon Treaty. |
| Czech President Vaclav Klaus is the only EU leader yet to sign the treaty. | Czech President Vaclav Klaus is the only EU leader yet to sign the treaty. |
| Mr Cameron told LBC radio: "I of course hope he doesn't sign the treaty but I suspect time is running out." | Mr Cameron told LBC radio: "I of course hope he doesn't sign the treaty but I suspect time is running out." |
| The Tory leader said he would decide "later this week" what to do about his party's pledge for a referendum on the treaty should they win power. | The Tory leader said he would decide "later this week" what to do about his party's pledge for a referendum on the treaty should they win power. |
| Mr Cameron has been accused by Eurosceptics of reneging on a promise, made in a 2007 article for The Sun newspaper, to hold a referendum even if the treaty was ratified. | Mr Cameron has been accused by Eurosceptics of reneging on a promise, made in a 2007 article for The Sun newspaper, to hold a referendum even if the treaty was ratified. |
| The Tory leader has not repeated that pledge recently, instead saying that if the treaty were ratified by the time the Conservatives gained power he would "not let matters rest". | The Tory leader has not repeated that pledge recently, instead saying that if the treaty were ratified by the time the Conservatives gained power he would "not let matters rest". |
| Labour says the Lisbon Treaty, which creates the post of President of the EU council and Europe's first foreign minister, is "good for Britain" as it helped the country tackle major transnational issues. | |
| Europe Minister Chris Bryant said: "We need the EU to be far more effective, for instance, in negotiations with China and India." | |
| He added: "This is a very significant challenge for the Conservative Party and we are not going to let them run away with it." | |
| 'Iron clad' promise | 'Iron clad' promise |
| Last month, the Conservatives said they would clarify their position once the Czechs had ratified the treaty, which would clear the way for it to pass into law across Europe. | Last month, the Conservatives said they would clarify their position once the Czechs had ratified the treaty, which would clear the way for it to pass into law across Europe. |
| Speaking on London independent radio station LBC, Mr Cameron said: "It looks like this is going to happen. I am very disapp ointed by that." | |
| We need a full referendum on Lisbon as we were promised - no ifs no buts Bill Cash, Conservative MP | We need a full referendum on Lisbon as we were promised - no ifs no buts Bill Cash, Conservative MP |
| Quizzed about what he would now do about the treaty, Mr Cameron said: "We will have to address ourselves to it and I will be doing that later this week." | Quizzed about what he would now do about the treaty, Mr Cameron said: "We will have to address ourselves to it and I will be doing that later this week." |
| The Tory leader has reportedly angered EU leaders by writing a letter to the Eurosceptic Mr Klaus earlier this year urging him not to sign the treaty. | The Tory leader has reportedly angered EU leaders by writing a letter to the Eurosceptic Mr Klaus earlier this year urging him not to sign the treaty. |
| It has been suggested that the Conservatives could seek to renegotiate some of the powers contained in the treaty or demand some powers back from Europe if they win the next election, as well as vowing to block any future European treaties. | It has been suggested that the Conservatives could seek to renegotiate some of the powers contained in the treaty or demand some powers back from Europe if they win the next election, as well as vowing to block any future European treaties. |
| But this is unlikely to satisfy those who are demanding a referendum, who are calling on Mr Cameron to honour his "iron clad" promise to hold one no matter what. | But this is unlikely to satisfy those who are demanding a referendum, who are calling on Mr Cameron to honour his "iron clad" promise to hold one no matter what. |
| Leading Conservative Eurosceptic Bill Cash told The Daily Telegraph: "We need a full referendum on Lisbon as we were promised. No ifs no buts. | Leading Conservative Eurosceptic Bill Cash told The Daily Telegraph: "We need a full referendum on Lisbon as we were promised. No ifs no buts. |
| "This is about the government of the UK operating in line with the democratic wishes of the country." | "This is about the government of the UK operating in line with the democratic wishes of the country." |
| Last major obstacle | Last major obstacle |
| Barry Legg, a former chief executive of the Conservative Party and member of Eurosceptic think tank The Bruges Group, told the newspaper Mr Cameron had to "come clean" with the British people. | Barry Legg, a former chief executive of the Conservative Party and member of Eurosceptic think tank The Bruges Group, told the newspaper Mr Cameron had to "come clean" with the British people. |
| "How can David Cameron claim he'll fight to repatriate powers from Brussels when he won't even fight to implement his own words?," he said. | "How can David Cameron claim he'll fight to repatriate powers from Brussels when he won't even fight to implement his own words?," he said. |
| Czech President Vaclav Klaus, who was awaiting the court's decision, has said he will not further oppose the treaty. | Czech President Vaclav Klaus, who was awaiting the court's decision, has said he will not further oppose the treaty. |
| If Mr Klaus signs, that would pave the way for the treaty to come into effect throughout the EU on 1 December. | If Mr Klaus signs, that would pave the way for the treaty to come into effect throughout the EU on 1 December. |
| The Czech president has been seen as the last major obstacle to the passage of the treaty, but he has recently appeared satisfied with a promised opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. | The Czech president has been seen as the last major obstacle to the passage of the treaty, but he has recently appeared satisfied with a promised opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. |
| Mr Klaus has said the opt-out was essential to prevent Czech courts being circumvented, mentioning the prospect of ethnic Germans - 2.5m of whom were expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II - trying to win back their property. | Mr Klaus has said the opt-out was essential to prevent Czech courts being circumvented, mentioning the prospect of ethnic Germans - 2.5m of whom were expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II - trying to win back their property. |