Cameron denies party turmoil over EU treaty

David Cameron denied today that his party was in turmoil on Europe, as he came under pressure over his decision to abandon plans for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

The Tory leader indicated that, later today, he will unveil a promise that power will never again be handed over to Brussels without the approval of the British people.

He blamed Gordon Brown’s government for allowing the treaty – which achieved ratification yesterday with the signature of Czech President Vaclav Klaus – to become law without a referendum.

Most Tory eurosceptics appear to have accepted shadow foreign secretary William Hague’s argument that a referendum on Lisbon is no longer possible, as the Treaty is now law and its provisions, including a permanent President of the European Council and the loss of some British vetoes, cannot be undone.

But there is growing pressure for Mr Cameron to promise a vote of some kind on Britain’s relations with the EU.

Senior backbencher David Davis wrote in the Daily Mail today: “We should have a referendum, not on the treaty, but on the negotiating mandate that the British Government takes to the European Union.”

In a speech later today, Mr Cameron is widely expected instead to promise a manifesto commitment to negotiate the repatriation of some powers on social and employment policy to Westminster.

Speaking outside his London home this morning, he pointed the finger of blame for the ratification of Lisbon at Mr Brown: “Let’s be clear about what’s happened here. The politicians that run this country have given away a lot of power to Brussels without asking people first.

“I am going to make sure that that never, ever happens again. That’s what today is going to be about.”

Asked if the Tories were now in turmoil, he replied: “Not at all. The party actually wants us to have a fresh approach in Europe, but above all the vote that we need is a vote to get rid of a government that has completely let people down.”