This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8339522.stm
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Cameron under referendum pressure | Cameron under referendum pressure |
| (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. | 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. |
| In 2007, Mr Cameron made a "cast iron" guarantee to hold a referendum on any treaty that emerged from EU talks. | In 2007, Mr Cameron made a "cast iron" guarantee to hold a referendum on any treaty that emerged from EU talks. |
| But he has now said that if the treaty passes into law, as it is expected to, it will "create a new situation". | 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 is facing calls to hold a post-ratification referendum if the Tories win the next election. | Mr Cameron is facing calls to hold a post-ratification referendum if the Tories win 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 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| He added: "It looks like this is going to happen. I am very disappointed by that." | He added: "It looks like this is going to happen. I am very disappointed by that." |
| Conservative sources have confirmed to the BBC Mr Cameron's new policy will be unveiled on Wednesday. | Conservative sources have confirmed to the BBC Mr Cameron's new policy 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 obstacle | Last 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 spokesman | David 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. | |
| "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". | 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 from 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." |
| 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. | President Klaus, who was awaiting the constitutional court's decision, has said he will not further oppose the treaty. |
| If he signs, that would pave the way for the treaty to come into effect throughout the EU on 1 December. | If he 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 - 2.5 million 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 - 2.5 million of whom were expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II - trying to win back their property. |