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Tories vow to fight on for EU referendum as LibDem leader seeks to regain authority
Last updated at 00:22am on 07.03.08
Under pressure: LibDem leader Nick Clegg was attacked for not giving his party a free vote
As Mr Clegg battles to shore up his leadership, the Opposition are now planning to reintroduce their amendment calling for a public ballot when the treaty goes before the House of Lords.
They believe the parliamentary make-up there, where the Government has no overall majority, could work in their favour even if the Liberal Democrats abstained as they did in last night's poll.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "The Liberal Democrats' position will once again be pivotal. We will see if they follow their three-line whip in the Commons to abstain."
Almost a quarter of LibDem MPs crossed the floor last night to vote for a referendum in defiance of a three-line whip imposed by Mr Clegg demanding that they abstain.
Frontbenchers Alistair Carmichael, Tim Farron and David Heath all stepped down so that they could vote with the Tories in favour of a referendum on what is the biggest shift of power to Brussels for at least a decade.
Some 29 Labour rebels also voted for the Tory amendment but the overall poll went in the Government's favour by 311 votes to 248, a majority of 63.
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A Tory amendment calling for a referendum was defeated by 311 votes to 248 - a Government majority of 63
In the Commons today, the fledgling LibDem leader, who is just three months in the job, was mocked by the Tories for plunging his party into crisis.
Shadow leader of the house Theresa May said: "Yesterday in this House the Liberal Democrat leader flunked his first big test.
"He sat on the fence as a point of principle, he divided his party after only a few weeks and he's created two classes of frontbenchers - those who have to resign for rebelling and those who don't.
"Weak, divided and vacillating. Can we have a debate on the qualities of political leadership?"
Mr Clegg was not in the chamber but his party's spokesman Simon Hughes struggled to make himself heard as Tory and Labour MPs laughed and groaned.
Sir Patrick Cormark then got in on the act by likening the Liberal Democrats to the Mugwumps - an American political movement from the 19th century.
Amidst cheers and laughter from MPs, he called for a debate on the naming of political parties.
He said: "(Ms Harman) will be aware that in 19th century America there was a party known as the Mugwumps.
"They were so called because they sat with their mugs on one side of the fence and their wumps on the other ... would that not be a better description for this lot (the Liberal Democrats) down here."
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Traitor: Gordon Brown signs the controversial Lisbon Treaty, which critics claim should have been subjected to a referendum
Mr Clegg has denied that he made a massive miscalculation in ordering his party to abstain, claiming that he has the support of the "overwhelming majority".
But he is now under intense pressure to reassert his authority when he delivers his first big setpiece speech as party leader at the Lib Dems' spring conference this weekend.
The party has long been regarded as the most unified over the thorny issue of Europe but somehow came out of last night's poll the most bitterly divided.
Like the Government, Mr Clegg had argued that a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty was not needed because it was not the same as the failed EU constitution.
But his MPs reacted with fury, many having consistently pledged - along with both Labour and the Tories - that there would be a referendum.
None of the three MPs who resigned have been replaced, with their duties simply reassigned to other members of the frontbench team.
Mr Clegg is planning to talk to eight other rebels, including yet more frontbenchers, but the walk-out has left him with little room for manoeuvre.
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Face to face: Gordon Brown and David Cameron do battle over Europe in Prime Minister's Questions. The Tory leader accused Mr Brown of 'losing courage' ahead of the vote
Yesterday's Commons defeat means a vote in the House of Lords - where the Government could be defeated by Tories and crossbenchers - will be the last chance for campaigners.
That vote is due later this year.
A public ballot has huge backing, with 88 per cent of voters in mini-polls last weekend demanding a chance to have their say.
The Lisbon Treaty will see the creation of a permanent EU president, foreign minister and diplomatic service and surrenders nearly 50 national vetoes to Brussels.
All three main parties made manifesto pledges in 2005 to hold a referendum on the EU constitution - now the revamped Lisbon Treaty.
Yesterday David Cameron taunted the Prime Minister that he was afraid of holding a national vote on the treaty because he knew it would be lost.
The Tory leader told Mr Brown at Prime Minister's Questions: "All of us in this House promised a referendum. We have the courage of our convictions - you have lost your courage and that lot (the Liberal Democrats) have lost their convictions."
Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "The unavoidable implication is that politicians are not trustworthy, that Parliament does not see itself as accountable and votes do not necessarily matter.
"All attempts to wriggle out of that commitment will only be seen, and will only be, the weasel words with which a solemn promise is deliberately and calculatingly broken."
Even pro-European former Chancellor Ken Clarke questioned the Government's position.
"Will you stop all this nonsense about it being different from the constitution, because it is plainly the same in substance, and explain why it is better not to have a referendum but have it decided in parliament," he said.
Mr Brown accused the Conservatives of heading towards "the margins" of Europe by failing to support the Lisbon Treaty.
He insisted that the change would not create a "United States of Europe".
Mr Clegg had argued for an "in or out of Europe" referendum, which failed to even get a vote, leading to questions over his judgment.
Insiders claimed Mr Clegg's hands were tied because the decision to abstain had been inherited from his predecessor, Sir Menzies Campbell.
But another source said the leader had failed to realise that LibDem MPs were not as sold on the European ideal as the party's peers and MEPs.
LibDem rebel Mike Hancock, a backbencher who represents Portsmouth South, described the party's position as "a mess".
He said that while Mr Clegg retained his support, the leader had blundered by not offering his MPs a free vote.
A senior LibDem MP criticised Mr Clegg for handling the issue "badly at best, incompetently at worst".
But he insisted it would not jeopardise Mr Clegg's job, saying it simply reflected his "inexperience".
However he warned: "Lessons need to be learned, and quickly."
Today, Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies also insisted that Mr Clegg's leadership was not under threat.
"Nick Clegg's leadership, after three months, is utterly unchallenged," he told the BBC.
"The man is so obviously intelligent, so disarmingly good-humoured and self-deprecating even in situations like this and so absolutely determined to fight the liberal corner even when his views may not be popular, that he is at one with the very heart and soul of this party and you will see that at the weekend's conference.
"Nick Clegg is going to be leader of the Liberal Democrats for a very long time."
He added: "He has had a very difficult set of cards to play but an abstention is not a cop-out. It is just a third choice when the other two are not acceptable."
Reader views (30)
Thanks a bunch, we all know who not to vote for come the next election, Labour was a given but the Lib Dems have proved that they're are a bunch of invertebrates. That's assuming of course that Brown doesn't decide that we should be a dictatorship and we have a next election.
- Paul Burstow, Hertfordshire
Democracy in this country stinks. We were promised a referendum by
Blair. We have troops half way round the world fighting to impose democracy. Our politicians don't know the true meaning of democracy. once we help them into office they become autonomous.
- Mick Jack, Wellingborough UK
There are 63 Liberal Democrat MP's, all of whom abstained except for 13.. if they had in fact voted against this on those numbers the government majority would have been reduced to just 13. It may not have changed the outcome but it certainly would have made it much more uncomfortable for the government. What was Nick Clegg thinking of?
- John, London
I would ask voters before they before they vote at the next general election to remember the way their M.P. voted in the parliamentary vote on th E.U. treaty referendum.
- C.Hallam, Nottingham, England
Well done Government for not pandering to the Eurosceptics! Those who think that the UK can simply pull out of the EU are totally deluded. For all its faults, the Labour governement has given the UK a central and influential role in the EU, and the UK is no longer perceived as being the cry-baby, tantrum toddler on the margins.
Trust me, that Cameron and the Tories, despite all their posturing, would not have the guts (or stupidity) to damage the UK's role in the EU were they in government. And I bet EVERY SINGLE penny to my name that they would NOT have conducted a referendum on this matter either; its easy for them to act big when in opposition though - they "gave away much more power" to the EU when they went ahead with the Maastricht Treaty without a referendum.
While I do admit that the Government has been somewhat "sly" in the whole "is or is not the Lisbon treaty the same thing as the Constitution" debacle, I'm glad that they did not go ahead and pander to the the populist Eurosceptic dullards in the Tories/media and unfortunately, general public. I fear that a referendum would have failed for Government AND the good of the country. So by going against (some) loud public opinion. the Government has shown leadership and resilience and done what is RIGHT and Good for the country rather than what will make them popular.
- Paul, Gibraltar
Never mind the next general election, do we have any (sympathetic) lawyers online who can advise what we can do about breach of promise ... or something along those lines! - NOW ?
- Marianne, SW France
In the corridors of power in Brussels the 'post democratic era' is spoken and our Traitors in Parliament have added to the creation of the European Soviet Union. Shame on them!
- Nathan Olsen, Leicester, England
This was never really a test of our acceptance of the EU but more a test of our democratic right to decide for ourselves and our politicians failed us once again. They no longer represent us,but what do you expect from MP's who become isolated from their voters. Anyway it fits in with all the other lies we are told ie Iraq War, Olympic budget, immigration, it goes on.
- G Humphreys, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
Labour the gutless ones, Lib Dems the sheep of Labour.
- Andrew Hutchison, ipswich
Lets just give away our rights and heritage without a second thought. What on earth is happening to this country? We are rapidly heading for non-existence thanks to Labour's treachery and lies. We are flooded with immigration, we deny our culture, and now we give away our right to independent governance.
- Estella, Luton, England
This England we fought for and our ancestors has now been handed over to the corrupt EU by that well known TRAITOR BROWN.
This will clearly send the message to the electorate to get rid of this traitor and his Goons and bring some sanity back into British politics.
Hold your heads in shame all those who voted no to the referendum for it will come back to haunt you at the next election
- Mike B, Lincoln uk
The British only have themselves to blame, we moan and groan about this type of thing but do nothing about it. Just accept it, were not going to do anything about it so stop moaning. Funny how when petrol went up to 90p litre all hell broke out, now its 113p a litre............NOTHING. You will all have your chance at the next general election.
- Marcus Amison, Hinckley, Leicestershire.
I have never met anyone who wanted to join this so called union in the first place.
And now we are denied the the democratic right to vote on the issue
- Ron Sealey, Croydon England
Well done to David Heath, Tim Farron, and Alistair Carmichael for standing up for what they believe in. MPs should be ashamed and apologetic for this travesty rather than marching on in a Stalin like manner. The issue is not about treaty but about the population's right to vote on this issue. As MPs their actions should be above reproach, a beacon for children-instead we have partisan politicians safeguarding their position at the feeding trough of the Westminster.
- M Stickley, London, England
Absolutely disgusting, surely there must be something that we can do.
- Eileen Buckell, Andover, Hampshire
It is a very sad day for British politics and the British people. All parties promised a referendum on the treaty and only the Conservatives, and some Labour & Lib Dems are to be congratulated on their stance over the need for this referendum.
It is no good the Government bleating over this treaty, for that is what it is. I have checked the treaty against the version that was rejected, and it is 99% identical. Oh! yes there has been some tinkering with text but the Government lies are well documented.
Please let us have a real referendum and get out of the EU.
- Peter Smith, Weymouth
And when did you ever vote on the "British Constitution"? Why has there been no vote on that? We can elect or unelect MEPs in exactly the same way as we can MPs so what does a constitution matter. A fabricated storm in a tea-cup. When a commoner in England is given the same privileges as a landowner under the "English Constitution" Magna Carta, that is the day I will believe English people are serious about such things. No commoner in England has a right to trial by his peers etc, only landowners do, is it any wonder English law is seen to be biassed against the poor, because it is. Of course we Scots come under the Declaration of Arbroath, a far more succinct, recent and meaningful document. Reading the declaration it is obvious little has changed down South in the intervening 700 years since it was written. England still thinks it is the centre of the Universe, it never was and it never will be.
- John, Dundee, UK
We should revolt - this is disgusting - they don't realise the power of the people. Viva La Revolution!
- Jo, canvey island
Perhaps, this is a big one, one day we will get a government with the nerve who will give us the vote and if we vote against the EU they will turn around and tear up this agreement. Then this lot, if it is shown to be against our interests could be disgraced and voted out.
- Alan, Chelmsford, UK
This is bad news for the Country and bad news for the Labour Party. This broken promise will be brought up again and again. It will take years to recover from it - and I predict that this is the beginning of the end for Gordon Brown as leader of the Party.
- Bazzer, West Malling, Kent
Lets just give away our rights and heritage without a second thought. What on earth is happening to this country? We are rapidly heading for non-existence thanks to Labour's treachery and lies. We are flooded with immigration, we deny our culture, and now we give away our right to independent governance.
- Estella, Luton, England
The dimwits in the Labour party just voted themselves out at the next General Election
- Dave, london
The only reason we were denied a referendum is because the Govt. knew the British public would vote overwhelmingly to reject the treaty on principle.
- Adam, Harrow, Uk
This is how revolutions start.
- Jimbob, Kensington
What utter arrogance and contempt we are treated with by this dictatorship, sorry duly elected government we call Labour. Brownsky has shown nothing but utter disregard for the British Public. Please give us all what we want - A GENERAL ELECTION!
- Stuart, london
Clegg's an idiot, period. We'll get our vote in the next election - and it'll be bye-bye Brown!
- Paul, London
The Lords must force this dishonourable government to abide by their manifesto commitments.
- Ian, London
For 10 years Gordon Brown increased taxes, took from rich and poor and yet still there is a black hole he cannot explain. Plan 2 give the country away and his mate Tony will return as President of Europe with his snivelling little weasel Brown at his side. He then can chase after the Euro taxes and millions. I think it is time to follow the Non Doms and leave this place behind.
- Ian Makin, twickenham
What's the point in having a manifesto exactly? Maybe we should do away with General Elections as well? What a total and utter disgrace. Shame on Parliament!
- Jules, Ilkley, U.K.
Bye bye "Great Britain". Nice to have known you while you existed.
- Rogan, DFW Texas
