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UK to press ahead to ratify the EU Treaty despite its rejection by Irish voters.


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Foreign Secretary David Miliband says the UK must ratify the EU Treaty despite its rejection by Irish voters.

The result of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty should be "respected and digested" but the UK "must keep the ratification process going", he said.

EC President Jose Manuel Barroso said it will be discussed next week but the Tories said it must be "declared dead".

Ireland was the only member state to hold a public vote on the treaty, which must be ratified by all 27 countries.

The British government says the Bill to ratify the treaty will continue its progression through Parliament - despite 53.4% of Irish voters rejecting it in the referendum vote.

Mr Miliband said the Irish result should be respected but there should also be a "British view" on the treaty.

"I think it is right that we follow the view that each country must see the ratification process to a conclusion," he said.

"I believe it is right that we continue with our process and take up the Irish offer of further discussions about the next steps forward."

Mr Barosso called on other members states to continue ratifying the treaty insisting it was "alive and we should now try to find a solution".

Clear message

But Conservative leader David Cameron said it would be the "height of arrogance" to continue to try to ratify it in the UK.

"People in Ireland have sent the clearest possible message that they do not want this treaty, they do not want this constitution and by all rights now it should be declared dead."



He said: "I think the elites in Brussels have got to listen to people in Europe who do not want endless powers being passed from nation states to Brussels."

And he added: "It is the height of arrogance for Gordon Brown and our government to press ahead with ratifying this treaty, flying in the face of public opinion."




Read more here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7453084.stm
BretByron

4 responses // UK to press ahead to ratify the EU Treaty despite its rejection by Irish voters.

  • Whats the Point?
    27 countries need to accept it.
    We haven't, therefore it is over.
    Owwmykneecap
  • thankfully the irish, who have democracy, made a good decision, not only for them, but for the rest of us who dont have the freedoms they do. personally i thank the people of ireland, and maybe in england one day we will get a democratic system.
    troyka
  • Here in Ireland, the people feel under threat by bullying European tactics.
    The Catholic Church and the Irish Farming Association campaigned for a No vote.
    Our government tried to push for yes - minus the support of these two massive organisations - not going to happen.
    They told us little and it was all too vague.

    The people of Ireland make up less than 1% of the European population but we were allowed to vote on this and with this No vote, we have protected our democracy in this country.

    I heard Europe is going to exclude Ireland now and to me, it seems like more of the scare tactics being used by elites in Brussels to coerce citizens into whatever the hell they feel like...
    lizreapsall
  • I posted this to remind people that the fight continues....
    BretByron

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