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03/11/2009
Cameron's Lisbon 'Disappointment'
Conservative Leader David Cameron will reveal his party's reviewed Lisbon Treaty strategy tomorrow, amid speculation the new European policy is on the cusp of full ratification.
In 2007, Mr Cameron insisted, should the Tories come to power, a referendum would be held on the treaty.
Having provided a "cast iron" guarantee on the issue, Mr Cameron and his party continued to hold their position, despite the fact the treaty was effectively signed-off by the current government.
He is now facing calls to hold a post-ratification referendum if the Tories win the next election.
Today, Mr Cameron conceded: "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."
He said the Conservatives would be "responding in full before the end of the week" to the "new situation".
Addressing reports suggesting the Czechs are poised to ratify the treaty, Mr Cameron said he suspected "time was running out".
"It looks like this is going to happen. I am very disappointed by that," said the Tory leader.
Conservative MEP Roger Helmer said he believes Mr Cameron is a "man of his word", and is likely to push for a referendum in some form.
"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," Mr Helmer told the BBC.
Europe Minister Chris Bryant said the government is committed to the treaty, suggesting Mr Cameron is "terrified of betraying the Eurosceptic wing of his party".
"This is a very significant challenge for the Conservative Party and we are not going to let them run away from it," he added.
(PR/BMcc)
In 2007, Mr Cameron insisted, should the Tories come to power, a referendum would be held on the treaty.
Having provided a "cast iron" guarantee on the issue, Mr Cameron and his party continued to hold their position, despite the fact the treaty was effectively signed-off by the current government.
He is now facing calls to hold a post-ratification referendum if the Tories win the next election.
Today, Mr Cameron conceded: "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."
He said the Conservatives would be "responding in full before the end of the week" to the "new situation".
Addressing reports suggesting the Czechs are poised to ratify the treaty, Mr Cameron said he suspected "time was running out".
"It looks like this is going to happen. I am very disappointed by that," said the Tory leader.
Conservative MEP Roger Helmer said he believes Mr Cameron is a "man of his word", and is likely to push for a referendum in some form.
"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," Mr Helmer told the BBC.
Europe Minister Chris Bryant said the government is committed to the treaty, suggesting Mr Cameron is "terrified of betraying the Eurosceptic wing of his party".
"This is a very significant challenge for the Conservative Party and we are not going to let them run away from it," he added.
(PR/BMcc)
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