Government Wins First Battle Over EU Treaty

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has cleared the first hurdle of the controversial EU reform treaty despite a minor dispute by the Liberal Democrats to attempt to block the Tories to force a referendum.

Asked if the Lib Dems would allow the Commons to vote through a referendum by abstaining, he replied: "I certainly hope not. No".

Labour backbenchers who oppose the treaty have also warned that the Government could face a much bigger revolt when it comes to the expected vote on an amendment to hold a referendum.

The Government won a second reading on the EU (Amendment) Bill with a majority of 138 on Monday night.

Mr Brown signed the Lisbon Treaty in December but the Parliament must ratify it.

Although 18 Labour back-benchers and four Nationalist MPs had signed an amendment calling for a referendum on the document, it was not subject to a vote as the Commons speaker decided against calling it.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband insisted a referendum was unnecessary as the treaty did not amount to "fundamental constitutional" change. He said the Lisbon treaty was "good for Britain and good for Europe".

Mr Miliband insisted that the treaty marked the end of a process of institutional reform in the EU – which had "gone on too long and taken too much energy".

During the fiery debate, the Conservative MP Andrew Robathan was told to retract comments that the foreign secretary's speech was "a rant of propaganda that would be worthy of Goebbels".

Mr Brown was absent from the debate, as he was on his way back from a trip to China and India, prompting suggestions that he views their mounting economic power as far more important than finalising Europe's institutional future.

(CD)