By Anthony Fletcher - 5th March 2008
UK prime minister Gordon Brown faces a tough time proving his country’s commitment to Europe as the British parliament votes to ratify the Lisbon treaty this evening.
A week after returning from Brussels where he emphasised Britain’s place at the “heart” of the EU, Brown faces hostile opposition to ratification across the political spectrum.
The Liberal Democrats want an "in or out" referendum on EU membership, while the Conservatives want one on the treaty.
Conservative opposition leader David Cameron, who has consistently called for a referendum of what he calls a revised constitutional treaty, said that parliamentary ratification was contributing to a sense of "broken politics" in the country.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said that the prime minister was wrong to block an in-out referendum “that the British people really want".
An amendment to the bill opening the way for a two-question referendum tabled by Labour MP Ian Davidson could unite about 30 rebel Labour MPs with most Conservatives and some Liberal Democrats.
This would be enough to defeat the Labour government, though Brown is confident of seeing the bill ratified through parliament.
Brown also always maintained that the Lisbon treaty is different from the constitution, and has pointed out that only Ireland is holding a referendum.
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