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Cameron under referendum pressure Cameron under referendum pressure
(about 1 hour later)
Tory leader David Cameron will decide "later this week" what his policy is on a Lisbon Treaty referendum after the Czechs moved closer to ratification. Tory leader David Cameron will say "later this week" what his policy is on a Lisbon Treaty referendum after the Czechs moved closer to ratification.
A Czech constitutional court has cleared the way for President Vaclav Klaus to sign the treaty. In 2007, Mr Cameron made a "cast iron" guarantee to hold a referendum on any treaty that emerged from EU talks.
Mr Cameron told LBC radio: "I of course hope he doesn't sign the treaty but I suspect time is running out." But he has now said that if the treaty passes into law, as it is expected to, it will "create a new situation".
He is under pressure from Eurosceptics to hold a post-ratification referendum if he wins power. Mr Cameron is facing calls to hold a post-ratification treaty if the Tories win the next election.
The Tory leader has been accused 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."
He 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". 'New situation'
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said Mr Cameron "will insist that his 'cast-iron guarantee' of a referendum lasted only as long as the Lisbon Treaty was not law". Tackled about this pledge at a press conference, Mr Cameron said: "I think it is only fair that people should be given a referendum."
'Iron clad' promise 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."
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. We need a full referendum on Lisbon as we were promised - no ifs no buts Bill Cash, Conservative MP class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/">Nick Robinson: Cameron sell-out?
Speaking on London radio station LBC, Mr Cameron said: "It looks like this is going to happen. I am very disappointed by that." He said the party would be "responding in full before the end of the week" to the "new situation".
We need a full referendum on Lisbon as we were promised - no ifs no buts Bill Cash, Conservative MP A Czech constitutional court has ruled that the treaty is constitutional, paving the way for President Vaclav Klaus to become the final EU leader to sign it, ensuring it will pass into law.
Quizzed about what he will now do, Mr Cameron said: "We will have to address ourselves to it and I will be doing that later this week." Mr Cameron, who earlier this year made a personal appeal to Eurosceptic Mr Klaus not to sign, told LBC radio: "I of course hope he doesn't sign the treaty but I suspect time is running out."
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. But he added: "It looks like this is going to happen. I am very disappointed by that."
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 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 if they win the next election, as well as vowing a referendum on 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 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 obstacleLast 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.
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".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."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." He added: "This is a very significant challenge for the Conservative Party and we are not going to let them run away from it."
Czech President Vaclav Klaus, who was awaiting the court's decision, has said he will not further oppose the treaty. 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."
Czech President Vaclav Klaus, who was awaiting the constitutional 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.