Davis warns of EU Treaty backlash

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

But Mr Davis said ministers would "lose the argument" and face a backlash from the public who believed they had been promised a poll.

He told BBC News 24 Sunday programme that he did not believe claims of 120 Labour rebels prepared to defy the Prime Minister.

"I think they will probably evaporate when it comes down to it. But it doesn't mean the Government will win the argument. They may win the vote. In a way, losing the argument is worse for them.

"People will say `you promised this before. This treaty is 90% the same. What are you afraid of?'."

But he insisted: "For democracy's sake, for our national constitution's sake, this is something that absolutely has to go to a referendum."

International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander told the programme: "What we have is a reforming treaty. All of those in the past have been put to parliament for proper parliamentary scrutiny. We live in a parliamentary system here in the UK. Other countries have different systems."

Mr Davis said there was no way of knowing whether one effect of the treaty could be to secure the release of prisoners such as Soham killer Ian Huntley or moors murderer Ian Brady.

The European Charter of Fundamental Rights incorporated into the treaty says sentences should not be "disproportionate".

Mr Davis said it was not clear whether that could mean the killers' release: "The simple answer is we don't know. One of the problems of European legislation is it often expands far beyond what the Government intended."