LEMBIT PROTESTS OVER IN-OUT EUROPE VOTE

10.25.29am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 27th Feb 2008

Welsh Liberal Democrat MPs today walked out of the House of Commons chamber in protest at Mr Speaker's decision not to call a vote on a referendum on Britain's continued membership of the European Union.

All 63 Liberal Democrat MPs had proposed an amendment to the Prime Minister's motion on the Treaty of Lisbon, but the Speaker refused a vote.

Lib Dem Foreign Affairs Spokesman Edward Davey was ordered out of the Commons, after angry protests to the deputy speaker.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire Lembit Öpik said:

"We are making a principled stand on this issue. It is outrageous that the views of Parliamentarians, and the 22% of the UK population that voted Liberal Democrat at the last election, have been refused a voice in the Commons chamber today.

"Conservatives don't want a referendum on Britain's continued membership of the EU because they are still hopelessly divided, and Labour are scared stiff at the prospect of an open debate on Europe.

"British people don't want a restrictive vote on a technical EU treaty. They want a referendum on the real issue of our continued EU membership.

"Liberal Democrats have the courage of their convictions. We want the chance to argue the case for our membership of the EU, rather than hiding behind a false debate."