British Democracy Forum - View Single Post - UKIP: UKIP backs referendum court victory

Anthony Butcher · 02-05-2008, 02:55 PM

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UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has congratulated millionaire Stuart Wheeler on his High Court victory that will allow him to pursue a case for a judicial review of the government’s decision not to hold a referendum on the EU constitutional treaty.
"I wish good luck to Mr Wheeler in his campaign to get the British people the referendum they were promised," Mr Farage said.

Mr Wheeler told the court a vote was promised on the EU constitution and says the Lisbon treaty is virtually identical.

In March MPs voted by 346 votes to 206 to approve the EU (Amendment) Bill to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, which was drawn up to replace the EU constitution after that was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

The chairman of Open Europe, Lord Leach, said the ruling "renders the government's attempt to ratify the Lisbon Treaty sub judice". He said he would raise the matter in the House of Lords, where peers are debating the Bill, and said the government should "stay its hand pending the outcome of this judicial review".
The High Court hearing will be heard on 9 and 10 June. The House of Lords is due to vote on calls for a referendum on 11 June.