Lisbon Treaty vote throws Tories into disarray

By Melissa Kite
www.telegraph.co.uk

A crucial referendum in Ireland on the controversial Lisbon Treaty has plunged preparations for next month’s Conservative conference into disarray.

Party chiefs are struggling to prepare alternative policy blueprints to unveil to grassroots activists, as the mood in Ireland suggests the vote on October 2 could go either way.

If the Irish vote No, it will give a huge boost to David Cameron’s campaign to derail the EU Treaty and will open the way for the Tory leader to promise the British people a referendum on the issue.

However, if Ireland votes Yes, the Treaty will move a step closer to becoming law before the end of the year, and the Tories will be plunged into a deep dilemma as to how they can possibly overturn it.

Both Mr Cameron and William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, have already said that they would “not let matters rest” if the Treaty was ratified by all EU member states before a Tory government came to power.

However, they have not said whether the British people would be offered a referendum in such circumstances.

The treaty is proving one of the most intractible problems for Mr Cameron, who has vowed to weaken the hold which Brussels has over national decision making.

Critics say that changes to the EU decision-making process contained in the document would erode national sovreignty.

When the Conservatives gather for their annual conference two days after the Irish vote, activists are likely to use the event to press the leadership for a clear statement.

Mark Francois, the shadow minister for Europe, said the Conservatives would set out in their manifesto what they intend to do to tackle the Treaty if the Irish vote Yes and it goes through before the UK general election, which must be held by next June.

Mr Francois said: “It is still open to Gordon Brown to hold the referendum the British people were promised.

“That is what he ought to do. If the Treaty is not yet in force at the time of the next election and a Conservative government is elected we would hold that referendum and we would recommend the Treaty’s rejection.

“But if the Lisbon Treaty is in force at the time of the next election then in our view political integration would have gone too far, the Treaty would lack democratic legitimacy in this country and we would not let matters rest there.

“Naturally, we will set out how we plan to take things forward in the manifesto we will put to the British people. Read full article…

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