Friday

24th Mar 2023

British MPs to debate EU 'referendum lock'

  • The British Houses of Parliament across the River Thames (Photo: Paul Vallejo)

Eurosceptic Conservative MPs are expected to test the authority of British Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday (11 January) when the House of Commons debates a European Union Bill, designed to prevent the transfer of powers to Brussels without a national referendum first taking place.

Forced into an uneasy coalition with the pro-European Liberal Democrats last year, Conservative rightwingers claim the new bill fails to preserve national sovereignty, raising the prospect of a return to the in-party fighting over Europe that dogged former Tory prime minister John Major in the early 1990s.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

If passed by the British parliament, the new bill would ensure that any "significant" EU treaty changes must be approved by a national referendum in the future.

Ministers would be able to wave through treaty changes deemed as "not significant", something London is expected to do regarding the establishment of a permanent European Stability Mechanism to aid struggling eurozone states.

Any example of government rather than citizen approval would be open to challenge via a judicial review however.

Proposals to introduce the 'referendum lock' on European powers were first suggested by David Cameron in 2009 after he ruled out a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty following its ratification by all 27 EU member states.

UK foreign secretary William Hague defended the plans over the weekend as "the strongest defence of national democracy put in place anywhere in Europe", but eurosceptic Tories are unconvinced.

Individuals such as veteran backbencher Bill Cash, Conservative chairman of the British parliament's European scrutiny committee, say the new law will fail to increase the democratic say.

"It was sold as a bill that was going to increase the power to the people," Mr Cash told the BBC. "In fact, what it does is undermine the power of the people by giving greater opportunities and gateways for the judiciary to be able to assert its ultimate authority over parliament and that is not a good thing."

The opposition Labour Party has described the bill as a "dog's dinner", arguing that the government should focus on restoring economic growth and jobs, rather than incessantly striving to appease Conservative eurosceptic MPs.

While Mr Cameron has so far avoided even a modicum of the trouble that has plagued former British leaders, the Conservative prime minister has been careful not to appear soft over the 'EU question', with his electorate traditionally more cautious on the subject than in many member states on the European continent.

In a series of battles with the European Parliament late last year, Mr Cameron led the member state charge against a six-percent increase in the EU's 2011 budget, although the final figure of 2.9 percent was far above his initial call for a spending freeze.

More budgetary battles are expected this year as EU institutions and member states prepare to negotiate the EU's long-term spending programme, post 2013.

Sarkozy tells Cameron to 'shut up' on eurozone

Sharp tensions between Paris and London flared up on Sunday amid crisis talks on the eurozone, as President Nicolas Sarkozy of France hit out at British criticisms of the single currency.

Polish abortion rights activist vows to appeal case

Polish abortion rights activists Justyna Wydrzyńska was last week sentenced for giving abortion pills to a 12-week pregnant woman. She will appeal. But with a court stacked by politically-appointed judges, her chances of overturning it are slim.

Polish abortion rights activist vows to appeal case

Polish abortion rights activists Justyna Wydrzyńska was last week sentenced for giving abortion pills to a 12-week pregnant woman. She will appeal. But with a court stacked by politically-appointed judges, her chances of overturning it are slim.

Latest News

  1. EU leaders agree 1m artillery shells for Ukraine
  2. Polish abortion rights activist vows to appeal case
  3. How German business interests have shaped EU climate agenda
  4. The EU-Turkey migration deal is dead on arrival at this summit
  5. Sweden worried by EU visa-free deal with Venezuela
  6. Spain denies any responsibility in Melilla migrant deaths
  7. How much can we trust Russian opinion polls on the war?
  8. Banning PFAS 'forever chemicals' may take forever in Brussels

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic and Baltic ways to prevent gender-based violence
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Economic gender equality now! Nordic ways to close the pension gap
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Pushing back the push-back - Nordic solutions to online gender-based violence
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: The Nordics are ready to push for gender equality
  5. Promote UkraineInvitation to the National Demonstration in solidarity with Ukraine on 25.02.2023
  6. Azerbaijan Embassy9th Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting and 1st Green Energy Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us