Bill Cash explains why now is the time to demand a re-ratification for the Treaty and a new Bill to implement that re-ratification, irrespective of the outcome of the Irish referendum.

Following my cross-examination of David Miliband, though I wanted the Foreign Office legal adviser to appear before the European Scrutiny Committee, David Milband refused – but I have prompted this letter on 20 July, which appears here and shows that David Miliband and the Foreign Office are in direct conflict with the European Scrutiny Committee and its eminent legal advisers. The implication of this is that going back to my original challenge to the Prime Minister which I re-enclose and my subsequent crossexamination of Miliband himself at the European Scrutiny Committee session on 2 July, we are now in a position – depending on Miliband’s reply which we believe it will be impossible to do satisfactorily – to demand a re-ratification for the Treaty and a new Bill to implement that re-ratification, irrespective of the outcome of the Irish referendum. The situation is therefore political as well as legal but depends upon his reply which we must ensure arrives before the 2nd October and the Irish vote.

A new Bill for the passing of the Lisbon Treaty

On 23 June, Bill Cash put the following question to the Prime Minister:

Mr. William Cash: Will the Prime Minister understand, contrary to what he has just stated, that the Irish arrangements amend the Lisbon treaty and fundamentally and greatly extend the Irish treaty protocol of 1992 so that these arrangements affect all Member States and therefore require reratification now and must be enacted by a Bill in this Parliament, in Ireland and in all the member states?

The Prime Minister: I know that, whatever was decided at the European Council, the hon. Gentleman would be calling for exactly that. Let me just read to him what was said: “The protocol will in no way alter the relationship between the EU and its Member States”. That was stated by the Council, including the Irish. The sole purpose of the protocol will be to give full treaty status to the clarification set out in the decision to meet the concerns of the Irish—

Mr. William Cash: You’re just parroting!