Lib Dems and the The Lisbon Treaty

3.33.41pm GMT Mon 21st Dec 2009

For the benefit of your readers and Jeffrey Carpenter in particular (Standard, 17 Dec), I feel I need to set the record straight again on the Liberal Democrats' position on the EU and the Lisbon Treaty.

The Lisbon Treaty, as it eventually emerged from the negotiations on the original constitution, was a highly technical and lengthy document that was simply aimed at making the constitution more workable.

The Liberal Democrats decided that a referendum on this treaty would not discharge the commitment that we gave in our 2005 Manifesto to hold a referendum on the constitution. We decided instead to press for a more meaningful referendum on the whole question of Britain's continued membership of the EU, which the other main parties rejected.

Contrary to the position of both Labour and the Conservatives, this remains the Lib Dem position.

Liberal Democrats would still argue the case of course for Britain to remain within the EU, warts and all, but we do recognise the need for reform and for greater transparency and accountability.

We would also continue to oppose any overly burdensome extra regulation and any unwelcome intrusion into non cross-border issues.

There are many myths about the EU but the loss of sovereignty should not be one of them. Brussels can only propose legislation, it cannot impose it. It is for our Government and our elected representatives in the European Parliament to ensure that our national interests are properly represented and protected at every stage of the legislative process before any proposals become law.

Member states are still the most important part of the EU and it is they who decide what the EU is and what it does. The newly-elected post of President of the European Council has no executive role and was created principally to improve the workings of the Council.

The Council had previously relied upon rotating the Presidency every six months- claims that an unelected President of Europe had been appointed to lead a new Federal superstate can therefore be safely discounted!

Ray Earwicker

Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bracknell