Conservative backbenchers are preparing to ambush the controversial European Union Bill which goes before the Commons when MPs return from their Christmas break. Eurosceptic Tories will table radical changes to the legislation, which they claim does not deliver on its promise of a referendum on future transfers of powers to the European Union. If the changes strengthening the legislation are not accepted by the Government, some Conservatives said they might even vote down the entire Bill. Last night Labour sources signalled that Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, will order his MPs to oppose the legislation too. The prospect of a pincer movement of Labour MPs and Tory rebels is acutely worrying for Mr Cameron, whose Coalition majority of 76 would be overturned if just over half that number of Tories joined forces with Labour. It would be the first defeat for the Prime Minister on the floor of the Commons since coming to power. The looming rebellion is a blow for Mr Cameron, who introduced the Billas a way of reassuring Eurosceptic MPs that he was preventing further erosions of power to Brussels after he dropped his promise to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. But the move appears to have backfired. The mood among Tory backbenchers has been worsening for some weeks and some have rebelled on other issues, including tuition fees, because they are so angry about Mr Cameron's handling of Europe. Last night Conservative MPs leading the rebellion said they hoped most of the 38 Tories who voted down increases to the EU budget recently would join a rebellion against the EU Bill. Up to 40 more are believed to be unhappy and could either vote to change the Bill or abstain when it goes before MPs on January 11. The rebels say the proposed legislation, which is meant to offer a guarantee of a referendum on any substantial transfers of sovereignty to Brussels under future EU treaties, offers no safeguards at all. It gives ministers the power to decide whether a referendum is necessary within two months of a treaty change. Anyone would then be entitled to challenge the minister's judgment through judicial review. Tory backbenchers claim the move is window dressing and in fact could result in a more dangerous position than is the case currently because the courts, and not Parliament, would end up deciding whether a Treaty was acceptable. Labour opponents say the proposals are a "dog's dinner" and would create a legal minefield. Mr Miliband will oppose the legislation claiming it could open the way for endless legal challenges, a senior party source said. It is understood Tory rebels are planning to hold informal talks with Labour this week to try to agree on an amendment tightening up the Bill that they can all support. "There is a kernal of agreement between us," said one senior Labour insider. "If we are going to have a Bill of this sort, then making it work is essential. Our position is not a million miles from the Tory rebels." The legislation was recently panned by the Commons European Scrutiny Committee. Bill Cash, the chairman of the committee, has tabled amendments strengthening the so-called "referendum lock" to ensure EU Treaties are appraised by Parliament not the courts. He said: "The Government has come forward with a proposal which could make things worse. My amendments reaffirm the supremacy of the UK Parliament. "I would say this is a matter of national interest, not party politics. This is a crucial matter of the national interest and I would hope all MPs would react accordingly and support my amendment." Many high-profile Tory MPs are critical of the Bill, including veteran backbenchers John Redwood and David Davis as well as many newly elected Conservatives, who are overwhelmingly Eurosceptic. Philip Davies, MP for Shipley, called the Bill "ludicrous". He said: "It is full of anomalies. The feeling is we have already given away too many powers. "If they thought this bill would buy off the Eurosceptics I think they have made a crass error of judgement." Mr Redwood said: "I'm all in favour of a referendum on transfers of power and I'm all for asserting parliamentary sovereignty but I'm not persuaded this Bill does either of those things, and the Government would be wise to improve it." The shadow foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, said the Bill would be a "lawyers paradise". Miss Cooper is said to be sympathetic to the idea of a referendum on future transfers of power and is understood to be willing to look at the possibility of backing Tory amendments. When Labour was in power it controversially refused to offer a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. But a Labour source said: "If there is major constitutional change we support the idea of a referendum. Has there been a slight change of tone since Gordon Brown on this? Yes, maybe a fraction." He added: "This is a big own goal for David Cameron. He was trying to appease Tory Eurosceptics but this doesn't appease them at all. All it is doing is winding them up even more."Tory rebels and Labour join forces on EU Bill
David Cameron faces the prospect of an embarrassing defeat on
Europe next week as Labour prepares to join forces with
Conservative Party rebels to oppose a flagship Bill.
Saturday, 1 January 2011
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