British prime minister Gordon Brown today rejected a call from Tory leader David Cameron to accept the Lisbon Treaty was “dead” after the Irish ‘No’ vote.
Challenged at question time, Mr Brown stated he respected the Irish referendum vote but said the Irish Government had asked for more time to discuss what to do in the wake of its outcome.
“Just as we have respect for the Irish, we should have respect for the other countries that are processing the treaty and ratifying the treaty as well,” he said.
“And perhaps we should also have respect for this House, which has also voted for ratification of the treaty.”
But Mr Cameron said he did not understand why the prime minister did not have the courage to say the treaty was “dead”. “This is not a treaty that Britain wanted or needed. It’s a treaty you were so ashamed of you had to sign it in a room all on your own!”
Britain's House of Lords will debate the Lisbon Treaty for the last time today as it moves to ratify the agreement, despite last week’s Irish referendum No vote.
Officials believe the Treaty could have received Royal Assent by the time Gordon Brown meets European leaders in Brussels tomorrow.
David Miliband has admitted that all 27 countries must ratify the agreement
However, British foreign secretary David Miliband has admitted that all 27 EU countries must ratify the agreement in order for it to come into force.
France and Germany are thought to be keen to push ahead.
Eurosceptic Tory MP Bill Cash expects to hear today whether his application for judicial review of the treaty will be allowed to proceed.
Mr Cash said he was not challenging Parliament, but seeking a statement from the High Court that the treaty was now “incapable of ratification”.
“The Lisbon Treaty cannot come into force unless every single member state ratifies,” he said.
“The Irish people were asked in a referendum and have answered ‘No’. This is directly binding on the Irish government, they cannot change it.
“This treaty is dead as a parrot. What I’m saying is that the treaty has ceased to have any meaningful effect.”
The treaty is the latest stage in the European Union’s long-running saga of trying to streamline decision-making following its expansion to 27 members.
Controversial measures in the treaty include the creation of a new permanent president of the European Council, a new foreign affairs representative and the loss of many national vetoes.
Alongside Mr Cash’s bid, millionaire spreadbetting tycoon Stuart Wheeler is awaiting the outcome of a judicial review of the UK Government’s refusal to hold a referendum.
Additional reporting PA