PM pledges to stand firm on EU veto

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Mr Brown was speaking after the Government published the Bill to ratify the controversial EU Reform Treaty he signed in Lisbon last week.

He said the legislation would be examined "in the fullest detail" by MPs and pledged: "There is a provision in the Bill that any proposal to activate the mechanisms in the treaty which provide for further moves to qualified majority voting, but which require unanimity, will have to be subject to a prior vote by the House."

Those clauses in the treaty are known as passerelles, the French word for a foot bridge, signifying the movement of a subject from one voting area to another.

The Prime Minister assured MPs in a Commons statement: "In the event of a negative vote, the Government would refuse to allow the use of the passerelle."

Mr Brown also confirmed he would "oppose any further institutional change in the relationship between the EU and its member states, not just for this parliament but for the next". He stressed: "I stand by that commitment."

The premier said member states were also agreed there should be "no change in the foreseeable future".

Tory leader David Cameron challenged Mr Brown to keep his "promise" to hold a referendum on the EU treaty.

"Once again the Prime Minister is treating people like fools," said Mr Cameron.

He taunted Mr Brown about his late arrival to sign the Lisbon Treaty, saying his performance was "bizarre".