Britain ratifies Lisbon Treaty

Britain has become the 19th European Union country to ratify the Lisbon Treaty without a referendum, after the EU Amendment Bill completed its passage through parliament.

A last-ditch Conservative Party attempt to delay ratification until the autumn was voted down in the House of Lords by a margin of 93, and peers later gave the Bill its third reading without a vote. Royal Assent is expected to follow within 24 hours.