LISBON TREATY DEBATE: A SAD DAY FOR POLITICS 

East Antrim DUP MP, Sammy Wilson has described the decision of the House of Commons to ratify the Lisbon Treaty as a sad day for public confidence in politics. The MP highlighted the fact that many members of the House reneged on their own manifesto commitment to allow a referendum on the contents of the Treaty. Mr. Wilson went on to say that he hoped the voters in the Irish Republic will reject the Treaty when they go to the polls on the matter. Sammy Wilson said: 

“What happened in the House of Commons yesterday was a sight to behold. Literally hundreds of Labour MPs traipsed into the aye lobby to ratify a Treaty which their party had promised us a referendum on. Actions such as this do nothing to increase public confidence in politics or politicians. The Lisbon Treaty is a re-hashed version of the European Constitutional Treaty which was rightly rejected by the voters of The Netherlands and France. If implemented it will move us towards the creation of a single foreign policy for Europe, a diplomatic corps and will see the transference of more powers from Parliament to Brussels."   

During the debate in the Commons last night, Mr Wilson said:

“I imagine that at the end of tonight's debate I will probably be on the losing side after going through the Lobby with those who, as has been the case many times during these debates, find themselves on the right side of the argument but on the wrong side of the vote. That is sad. I believe that the vote this Parliament took last week on the referendum, and that which I suspect will be taken tonight on the treaty itself, will do irreparable damage to our own image, the powers of this Parliament and our country.” 

Following the debate the MP said:

“Following this evening’s disgraceful decision to ratify a treaty which the government had promised a referendum on, it is my sincere hope that voters in the Irish Republic will now step in and deliver a similar blow to this federalist charter than the voters of France and The Netherlands did in 2006. Anyone who believes in the supremacy of Parliament and the preservation of our unique laws and way of life should be hoping for a resounding No vote from the Irish Republic when it goes to the Polls in June.”