Parliament ratifies the Lisbon Treaty

Max Kaye

The Czechs may also hold out against the pressure to ratify.

Having sold them down the river in 1938, it's embarrassing that we have to depend on these good to help secure our independence.

Diablo

Can the Irish Government over -turn the "No" vote after their constitutionally-required referendum? They would be breaking their own law surely?

dexey

I can't stand Nu labour (didn't think much of the Old Labour either) but I doubt that the Conservatives would have allowed a referendum. If we move out of Europe the MP's lose another gravy train. there is little chance of that happening

Pete

This has to be New Labour & the Liberal Democratic parties lagacy:

'Betrayal'

Betrayal on so many levels it is difficult to know on which issue to make a point.

The EU makes me think of Yugoslavia and Iraq. Where peoples were drawn together, under force, to create a new country.

It didn't work for these countries what makes the unelected 'LEADERS' of the EU think it will work for us.

I am angry at the Labour & the Liberal Deocratic Parties for not allowing me a vote on this issue.

Labour & the Liberal Democrats have just sold out everything that believers of the UK as an entity have fought and died for over the years.

The line has been drawn and new questions will be asked of UK politicians to justify their existance.

I love visiting and spending time in the different EU countries.

But I really don't want to bocome part of the single EU Superstate that Labour is pushing for.

Catherine, Chicago

I am so deeply shocked for Britain that Parliament would do this after the brass-necked lie about having a referendum. I saw an ICM poll the day before the Irish vote that only 28% of British supported treaty.

Pete

Here we have a constitutional crisis.

Labour want to sign away our historical rights and liberties.

The public don't want them to to do that.

If the Monarchy, or the House Of Lords, can't stop this for a better good then why is there a need for either to exist.

Having just discovered that the House of Lords has just ratified the Lisbon Treaty it now seems that both the Monarchy and the House of Lords have just become redundant.

I am sad about this.

However, we are now ruled from Brussels, get used to it and move on!

I REALLY, REALLY hate Labour and the Liberal Democrats for destroying so much of this countries' history and traditions.

I get the feeling that in the not too distant future, kids in some kind of European Socialist State will be gobsmacked to learn that taxpayers had control over how their money was spent and allocated.

This is what I think will happen in Labours brave new EU.

TGF UKIP

Watch very very carefully and you will see from the Tories much huffing and puffing but no undertaking to resile from this Constitutional Treaty nor to put this or any parallel European issue to a referendum. Trust Cameron on this or any other conservative issue at your peril.

Pete

Labour, in partnership with the Liberal Democrats have cast a black shadow over democracy.

Can anybody now give me a good reason why I should bother voting?

Verity

TGF UKIP - You are correct. The Nomenklatura are in charge, and they didn't need a single gun. Just the threat of thought fascism aka "political correctness" - and people monitored themselves! No need for a state army!

Pete: "Can anybody now give me a good reason why I should bother voting?"

No.

You didn't vote when it counted. You didn't protest when it counted. Now you are a servant of the Nomenklatura of the EUSSR and your vote, as rigged in elections henceforth, wouldn't count anyway.

David Lindsay

Since we are to ratify the Lisbon Treaty despite the Irish referendum result, what other dead letters should we incorporate into our law, and why?

Verity

David Lindsay - Excellent point! Can you name any failed bills that can now be hammered into law regardless of their failure?

Pete

Verity,

I did vote when it counted.

I have protested at every oportunity.

Even If I had persuaded everybody that listened it would have counted for nothing because this labour Government had decided to ahead with the treaty regardless of what the voters think.

When you have an authoritarian Government, democratic votes and referendum don't count for much.

ooops! I think that is what just happened.

Frank Pulley

If this does not awaken the English people to the utter contempt that Brown and his appartachiks have for them; if this does not awaken the English people into realising who they have voted into power three times on the trot; if this does not finally convince the English people that a crippled Italian neo-Marxist, now long deceased but previously from a prison cell, through his ideology and his pen, has succeeded in doing what Adolph Hitler with his warships, stormtroopers and Navy, allied to Mussolini and the Emperor Hirohito failed to do: wrest from the English people their sovereignty, their culture and their freedom to maintain their own laws without the interference of a foreign power, then the English people are done for. The pen is indeed mightier than the sword.

They must use the pen at the next election to put paid to Gramsci's disciples and start a long march back through the institutions, which have now become as foul as the Augean Stables, with hoses and shovels. I suggest that first shit cart is parked directly outside No.10 Downing Street.

Moreover the English people need assurances from David Cameron that he is free from the taint of counter-cultural hegemony and that he will restore the British parliament to its true role - as a sovereign power and economy.

Verity

Pete, no offence. I think we are all just very disturbed. No offence.

Marcus Cotswell

Just for the record, the Foreign Secretary ratifies treaties under the authority of the Crown. Parliament transposes them into UK law.

Water

As Lord Howell said (with regards to a YouGov poll), the day before the Irish vote, “the only misnomer in this excellent poll is the phrase ‘YouGov’ for in fact we do not Gov; a failing government tries to Gov”. Hence why, as Cameron said, “it's a treaty [Gordon was] so ashamed of [that he] had to sign it in a room all on [his] own” because even he knows that his actions are not supported by those with a voice and sense enough to speak (or type as the case maybe).

Bob

I just sent this to HM the ex Queen.

Dear Liz (hope that's not too informal given your change of status when the referendum is signed),

As you are going to do the signing thingy with the new EU constitution what are you going to do afterwards?

Obviously with Britain now a republic with a new President perhaps you should take a long deserved holiday. Your job is done.

Regards

Max Kaye

I think that it is now necessary for Cameron to declare unambiguously that if the Lisbon Treaty is adopted in spite of the Irish veto, then any in-coming Conservative Government will put it to a national referendum and abide by the results - even if it means a breach with the EU.

The matter is too grave to be 'politics as usual' - and far from making the Tories seen as a 'divided party', they will be viewed as reflecting the national will.

Will Cameron have the courage?

Old Hack

Let's not forget that it was the Liberal Democrats and their shameful betrayal of their manifesto commitment that enabled ratification, first and foremost.

They must pay the price for this over and over, starting in Henley then in every Lib Dem Parliamentary constituency. It is they, the Lib Dems, who permitted ratification both in the Lords and the Commons.

All those inclined to vote Lib Dem and who are sceptical about Europe - and there are more than a few such voters - should punish the Lib Dems for their betrayal and their lies.

As for the Lib Dem demand for a referendum on UK membership of the EU - if they couldn't keep their commitment when the heat was on why should they be believed about that little ruse.

Clegg and his little squalid band truly are a calamity for Britain.

John Clegg

Our monarch is about to grant her Royal Assent to this accursed Treaty, why doesn’t she see that it flies in the face of the clear wishes of the majority of the British people, why doesn’t she see that they are frustrated and angry that they are being denied the referendum that her loyal Government promised them in its manifesto, (By the way, just who is her Government loyal too). Why doesn’t she see that her loyal Government is now actually scheming and plotting to circumvent the will of the British people that they are supposed to be representing?

In which case what is our Head of State for? Who’s side is she on?

SHAME ON YOU, YOUR MAJESTY.

Ray Griffin

One minor point people are forgetting - doesn't matter what ratification takes place in Britain. The treaty is DEAD!!!!! They might as well have ratified a mouldy sandwich - it has as much legal force. Ireland has killed the treaty. It cannot become law. (yes I know they'll stitch something up, but it will be illegal, just as Maastricht is due to the Danes rejection of it)

Two points now:

1. The Tories have to re-negotiate, if possible leave the EU. Have some courage. Labour have no spine. Go for the kill.

2. Remember Labour's and the Liberals actions in this matter. The countdown to the election starts now. Your traitorous actions will not be forgotten. You time is coming to an end. WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU!!! SO YOU HAD BETTER RUN!!!!

adrian drummond

Although I'll be forced to abide by it (the Lisbon Treaty), I will not personally recognise it since it will lack any substantive democratic legitimacy.

I think this stance should be taken by everyone.

Travis Bickle

A two tier Europe looks perfect to me. The likes of Norway and Switzerland seem to be doing very nicely thank you very much.

Water

Re-negotiation is most definitely a card up the Cameron’s sleeve, I’m guessing it will be a while before he bears it though.

David Lindsay

Verity, the most obvious is the original text of the Constitution, ratification of which was abandoned after the French and Dutch No votes.

Bob, the Queen still has another 15 sovereign states. Off to The Bahamas, I reckon.

And all you people who think that the Tories would have been, or would be, any better, what planet are you living on?

Water

Lindsay I can tell you with absolute certainty that I trot around on terra firma, though admittedly today I have been struck down with a cold and my movements have been some what curtailed as of today. Though of course I couldn't tell you what the Tories would have done, I'm sure they wouldn't have made such a promise (to begin with) and then turned on it.