BRITISH RATIFICATION:BRITISH PRIME minister Gordon Brown rejected Tory demands that he pronounce the Lisbon Treaty "dead" as his government completed its ratification process in the House of Lords. The legislation will now go to the queen for signing into law.
A last-ditch attempt to delay the process in light of the Irish referendum result was defeated in the Lords by 277 to 184 votes, clearing the way for a third and final reading for the European Union (Amendment) Bill.
During rowdy exchanges in the Commons, Conservative leader David Cameron claimed continuing with ratification was part of an attempt to "bully" the Irish.
"Either this treaty is dead or it isn't," he told Mr Brown. "Because you won't take a lead and declare the treaty dead, everyone suspects you and others in Europe are going to make the Irish vote again." Demanding a guarantee that the prime minister "would never support such an arrogant move", Mr Cameron said: "It would be ridiculous to ask the Irish to vote twice, when we haven't even been allowed to vote once."
Mr Brown countered that the Irish had not said "either that they wish to postpone the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty for other countries or that they wish to stall the whole process". He suggested Mr Cameron equally respect the decision already made by the House of Commons on the issue. "Just as we have respect for the Irish, we should have respect for the other countries that are processing the treaty," said Mr Brown.
Mr Cameron wanted to know "which part of No" the prime minister did not understand: "He says he doesn't want to bully Ireland, but doesn't he understand that continuing with the ratification process is doing precisely that?"
The Conservative leader said: "I've seen more spine and leadership in a bunch of jellyfish." Mr Brown reminded the Conservatives of their past opposition to referendums on the Maastricht Treaty and the Single European Act. The prime minister also challenged: "If he wants to show the Conservative Party has changed, why doesn't he support the European Union?"
Mr Brown seized on the intervention of right-wing Conservative MP Ann Winterton. She wanted to know how people could be expected to trust government and abide by the law while the EU ignored the law stating that if one country failed to ratify, the treaty would fall.
"It's the Conservative Party all over again," countered the prime minister, claiming the party was "viscerally divided" with many of its members wanting "to take Britain out of Europe altogether".
Foreign secretary David Miliband conceded the treaty could not be brought into force without the agreement of all 27 states.