By Xinhua
London : British parliamentarians have rejected a proposal by the Conservatives to hold a nationwide referendum on whether to ratify the European Union (EU) Reform Treaty signed in Lisbon last December.
The House of Commons rejected the Conservative Party’s proposal by 311 votes to 248 votes Wednesday evening following a six-hour debate in the house.
The result means the British parliament itself will decide whether to ratify the treaty, signed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other EU leaders last December.
All EU member states nee to ratify the treaty before it can come into force. Among the 27 members, Ireland is the only country which will have a referendum on the Lisbon treaty later this spring.
During the 2005 election campaign in the country, former prime minister Tony Blair as well as the leaders of all main political parties promised a referendum on the EU constitution had it come to ratification by Britain.
But the constitution was rejected by the French and Dutch electorates later that year and the Lisbon Treaty was drawn up to replace it.
The government and the Liberal Democrats say the treaty does not have constitutional implications, so a referendum on it is not needed.
But the Conservatives and some rebel Labour and Liberal Democrat lawmakers say it is effectively the constitution under a different name so there should be a referendum.