Rejecting the Lisbon Treaty in the forthcoming referendum would play into the hands of British Tory Eurosceptics, SDLP leader Mark Durkan warned at a news conference in Dublin today.
“An Irish red light to Lisbon now could turn into a green light for a British Tory wrecking-ball in Europe,” said Mr Durkan, who was accompanied by deputy leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP MLA, Alban Maginness MLA and Patsy McGlone MLA.
Mr Durkan said that, after the No vote in the last referendum, Tory Eurosceptics in the House of Commons were “grinning like horses chewing thistles”.
“They are just hoping and praying for the same vote this time and people need to realise that the big new danger of a second ‘No’ vote is that these people might be in government in England soon.
“Lisbon, if it is thwarted by Irish votes, could play onside the most aggressively Eurosceptic British government in living memory.”
A No vote would not be a vote for the status quo: “In that scenario, we will all lose power, influence and money. The North could lose much of the favour it has enjoyed, when our European partners are frustrated by an egregious British government and they blame Irish votes for handing them such destructive advantage.”
Highlighting the European Union’s role in the peace process, he said: “The European experience has not just helped to fund peace; it has actually helped us to find peace. Our peace is in Europe and our place is in Europe.
“And that Europe can only help us to better fulfil our destiny in terms of economic recovery, environmental well-being and social justice if voters mandate the European Union to improve and advance. It’s regress or progress.”
Asked about his declared intention to step down from the SDLP leadership, Mr Durkan said the next party conference in February was “a very natural juncture” and the conference was, “the competent body for electing a new leader”.
Asked if he would be a candidate, Dr McDonnell said: “That will be discussed and announced in due course, if that’s the case, and, if it’s not the case, well, a similar announcement will be made, that I’ll not be a candidate.”
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern, who attended the news conference, said he “very much” welcomed Mr Durkan’s intervention in the referendum. “It is as it should be,” he added, given the SDLP’s “all-Ireland” ethos.
Labour Spokesman on European Affairs, Joe Costello TD said the SDLP had highlighted a new dimension, namely, “that the No vote wouldn’t just have consequences for Europe and Ireland but would have major consequences in relation to the United Kingdom”.
Fine Gael TD Andrew Doyle said it was “ironic” that Sinn Féin had aligned itself with the UK Independence Party (Ukip) and that Sinn Féin posters against Lisbon featured the “Union Jack” emblem.