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Cameron under referendum pressure Czechs force Cameron EU rethink
(about 1 hour later)
Tory leader David Cameron is to unveil his new policy on the Lisbon Treaty on Wednesday after the Czechs moved closer to ratification, party sources say. Conservative leader David Cameron will be forced to announce a new policy on Europe on Wednesday, after the Lisbon Treaty cleared its final hurdle.
In 2007, Mr Cameron made a "cast iron" guarantee to hold a referendum on any treaty that emerged from EU talks. The treaty is set to become law across Europe on 1 December after Czech President Vaclav Klaus became the last EU leader to sign it.
But he has now said that if the treaty passes into law, as it is expected to, it will "create a new situation". Mr Cameron has said he was disappointed by President Klaus's decision.
Mr Cameron is facing calls to hold a post-ratification referendum if the Tories win the next election. The Tory leader is under pressure to hold a post-ratification referendum if he wins the next election.
Eurosceptics have accused Mr Cameron of reneging on a promise, made in a 2007 article for The Sun newspaper, in which he said: "Today, I will give this cast iron guarantee: If I become PM a Conservative government will hold a referendum on any EU treaty that emerges from these negotiations."Eurosceptics have accused Mr Cameron of reneging on a promise, made in a 2007 article for The Sun newspaper, in which he said: "Today, I will give this cast iron guarantee: If I become PM a Conservative government will hold a referendum on any EU treaty that emerges from these negotiations."
'New situation''New situation'
Tackled about this pledge at a press conference, Mr Cameron said: "I think it is only fair that people should be given a referendum."Tackled about this pledge at a press conference, Mr Cameron said: "I think it is only fair that people should be given a referendum."
But he added: "It looks like this treaty is no longer going to be a treaty, it looks like it is going to become part of European law and that is going to create a new situation."But he added: "It looks like this treaty is no longer going to be a treaty, it looks like it is going to become part of European law and that is going to create a new situation."
We need a full referendum on Lisbon as we were promised - no ifs no buts Bill Cash, Conservative MP Nick Robinson: Cameron sell-out? We need a full referendum on Lisbon as we were promised - no ifs no buts Bill Cash, Conservative MP href="/2/hi/europe/8340664.stm">EU reform treaty passes last test class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/">Nick Robinson: Cameron sell-out?
He said the party would be "responding in full before the end of the week" to the "new situation".He said the party would be "responding in full before the end of the week" to the "new situation".
A Czech constitutional court has ruled that the treaty did not violate the country's law, paving the way for President Vaclav Klaus to become the final EU leader to sign it, ensuring it will pass into law. Czech President Vaclav Klaus earlier become the final EU leader to sign the treaty after his country's constitutional court ruled it did not contravene Czech law.
Mr Cameron, who earlier this year made a personal appeal to his Eurosceptic ally not to sign, told LBC radio: "I of course hope he doesn't sign the treaty but I suspect time is running out." Czech foreign minister Stefan Fule is now expected to deliver the signed Lisbon treaty - known as "depositing the articles" - in Rome later on Tuesday.
He added: "It looks like this is going to happen. I am very disappointed by that." UK Foreign Office sources say the treaty will have legal force from 1 December.
Conservative sources have confirmed to the BBC Mr Cameron's new policy will be unveiled on Wednesday. In a statement, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "President Klaus's decision marks an important and historic step for all of Europe.
"Today is a day when Europe looks forward, when it sets aside years of debate on its institutions and moves to take strong and collective action on the issues that matter most to European citizens: security, climate change, jobs and growth."
Foreign Secretary David Miliband accused Mr Cameron of taking a "false and dangerous" stance on the treaty that risked Britain's national interests.
"So much for David Cameron's cast-iron guarantee to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty," he said.
"As British foreign secretary, I would welcome Mr Cameron's U-turn because this treaty is good for Britain and for the British people. But he is still not being honest with people."
Conservative sources have confirmed to the BBC that Mr Cameron's new policy on Europe will be unveiled on Wednesday.
They said they were not deliberately timing the announcement to clash with the publication of Sir Christopher Kelly's report on MPs' expenses, insisting the party had always promised to unveil the policy as soon as they could and did not wish to be accused of "dithering".They said they were not deliberately timing the announcement to clash with the publication of Sir Christopher Kelly's report on MPs' expenses, insisting the party had always promised to unveil the policy as soon as they could and did not wish to be accused of "dithering".
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 in social affairs, employment or justice if they win the next election, as well as vowing a referendum on 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 in social affairs, employment or justice if they win the next election, as well as vowing a referendum on any future European treaties.
But this is unlikely to satisfy those demanding a referendum, who are calling on Mr Cameron to honour what they believe was a "cast iron" promise to hold one no matter what.But this is unlikely to satisfy those demanding a referendum, who are calling on Mr Cameron to honour what they believe was a "cast iron" 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 obstacleLast major obstacle
Conservative MEP Roger Helmer said he believed Mr Cameron was "a man of his word" as he had kept his pledge to remove the Tories from the centre right European People's Party in Brussels and Strasbourg.Conservative MEP Roger Helmer said he believed Mr Cameron was "a man of his word" as he had kept his pledge to remove the Tories from the centre right European People's Party in Brussels and Strasbourg.
"He gave a cast iron guarantee to the British people that, if and when he became prime minister, we would have a referendum and I believe that is a commitment he will need to keep to," he told BBC Radio 4's the World at One."He gave a cast iron guarantee to the British people that, if and when he became prime minister, we would have a referendum and I believe that is a commitment he will need to keep to," he told BBC Radio 4's the World at One.
David Cameron must come clean on where he now stands Ed Davey, Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesmanDavid Cameron must come clean on where he now stands Ed Davey, Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman
But Tory MP Philip Davies, of the Better Off Out group, said there was little point in holding a referendum on a treaty that had already been ratified and instead there should be a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the EU.But Tory MP Philip Davies, of the Better Off Out group, said there was little point in holding a referendum on a treaty that had already been ratified and instead there should be a referendum on whether Britain should remain in the EU.
Lord Pearson, for the UK Independence Party, which also campaigns for Britain's exit from the EU, warned Mr Cameron that if he did not pledge to hold a referendum the Conservatives would lose many votes to UKIP at the next election. Lord Pearson, for the UK Independence Party, which campaigns for Britain's exit from the EU, warned Mr Cameron that if he did not pledge to hold a referendum the Conservatives would lose many votes to UKIP at the next election.
"If they don't make sense on this issue we will cost them at least 50 seats," the peer told the BBC News channel."If they don't make sense on this issue we will cost them at least 50 seats," the peer told the BBC News channel.
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".
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 from it."
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey said that if Mr Cameron cannot make his position on Europe clear "he is not fit for government".Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey said that if Mr Cameron cannot make his position on Europe clear "he is not fit for government".
He added: "David Cameron will be terrified of betraying the Eurosceptic wing of his party, but he must come clean on where he now stands."He added: "David Cameron will be terrified of betraying the Eurosceptic wing of his party, but he must come clean on where he now stands."
President Klaus, who was awaiting the constitutional court's decision, has said he will not further oppose the treaty. Sources say there is likely to be an EU summit next week to discuss who will fill the posts of President of the European Council and High Representative for Foreign Affairs, which will be created when the treaty comes into force.
If he signs, that would pave the way for the treaty to come into effect throughout the EU on 1 December. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is widely seen as a candidate for president.
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. Despite his insistence that he is "not available" to take the job, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband is being considered as a possible High Representative - in effect Europe's first foreign minister, sources have told the BBC.
Mr Klaus has said the opt-out was essential to prevent Czech courts being circumvented, mentioning the prospect of ethnic Germans - 2.5 million of whom were expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II - trying to win back their property.