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On March 5th ("a day which will live in infamy"), a Conservative amendment which would have ensured a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (a.k.a. the Renamed Constitution) was voted down in the Commons by 311 votes to 248 -- a government majority of 63.
No fewer than 98% of sitting MPs, including Conservative, Labour and Lib-Dem, were elected in 2005 on an explicit manifesto commitment to hold a referendum.
The excuse advanced by some of them that the Lisbon Treaty is substantially different from the failed Constitution is a transparent deceit, as many EU leaders have admitted.
Our parliament has given away powers which were not its to give -- our fundamental right to govern ourselves -- and they have done so in breach of their solemn commitment to the British people. This is a vast breach of faith.
29 Labour MPs and 15 Lib-Dems supported the referendum. They deserve credit for keeping their promise in the face of blackmail from the Whips.
There is considerable doubt whether the position will be reversed in the Lords. But their Lordships have an honourable and counter-intuitive record of reflecting common sense and the will of the people rather better than the elected House.
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