Jun 18, 2008, 19:51 GMT
London - The bill to ratify the Lisbon Treaty completed its passage through the British parliament Wednesday after a last-ditch attempt by Conservatives to delay the process failed.
The House of Lords, in a third and final reading, Wednesday passed the legislation allowing Britain to ratify the reform treaty, which had earlier been given overwhelming backing in the House of Commons, the Lower House of Parliament.
The treaty has so far been approved by parliaments in 18 of the 27 EU member states. But it was rejected by voters in Ireland in a referendum last week, which means it cannot come into force as planned on January 1, 2009.
Its final approval by the House of Lords, the Upper House of British parliament, was assured after a Conservative amendment demanding a delay of ratification was rejected by 277 to 184 votes Wednesday, a majority of 93.
The Conservatives argued that a delay in the ratification process until October 20 was necessary to introduce changes to the legislation as a result of the Irish referendum.
'We cannot airbrush the Irish vote out of history,' said Lord Howell, who proposed the amendment. However, the motion failed to gain support from the Liberal Democrats, which would have been crucial for its acceptance.
The debate was interrupted by four protestors who were detained by security officers after shouting 'Give us a referendum' and 'It is democracy' from the public gallery.
The result comes as a relief for Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is due to attend a summit of EU leaders in Brussels Thursday.
In the House of Commons earlier Wednesday, Brown again rejected Conservative calls that there should be a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in Britain.
Brown said there would have been a referendum on the original EU Constitution - the forerunner of the Lisbon Treaty - and there would be a one if the Euro currency was ever to be introduced in Britain, but the Lisbon Treaty did not require a popular vote.
He said the Conservatives' aim was not just to defeat the treaty, 'but to get out of Europe altogether - which would be damaging for Britain.'
A delay in the ratification process would have caused serious problems for Brown, whose popularity ratings are already at rock bottom just a year after he took over from Tony Blair.
A new Europe debate in Britain would not only have revived calls for a referendum, but also reopened the whole debate about further political integration and Britain's place in Europe.
Opinion polls have consistently shown a British dislike for the ever-closer European Union.
Just this week, a poll showed that 54 per cent of Britons believed the Lisbon Treaty should be ditched after the Irish vote, and only 14 per cent supported its ratification.
A delay would have given eurosceptics of all political parties time to air their views on the treaty, and push for a referendum.
As it is, Brown can go to Brussels as a 'good European' and offer his good services in picking up the pieces after the Irish referendum shock, analysts said.
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