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11 July 2007 : Column 486WH—continued
“I think the idea we have a referendum...is frankly absurd...some of the Eurosceptics will have demanded a referendum just about the date on the top of the piece of paper, but they are flogging away, I think, at a dead horse.”
Today the dead horse has been dragged out of the stable and flogged again. I suspect that its carcase will be taken from the stable regularly in the next few months. The fact is that the treaty is a traditional amending treaty, and we have not held referendums on such treaties.
I hope that I can overcome at least some of the concerns raised by the hon. Gentleman. The European public prosecutor will have to be agreed to by unanimity, and the UK does not see a need for such a body, so I hope that that matter will perhaps not find its way into the hon. Gentleman’s future speeches.
On the observations of other member states and prominent politicians across the EU that the hon. Gentleman mentioned, what they have signed up to, as they are entirely entitled to do, is not the same approach as that of the United Kingdom’s, which has a series of opt-ins, protocols and specific arrangements that the UK secured as part of its negotiation on the reform treaty.
I congratulate the hon. Gentleman again on securing the debate, which I am sure will be continued, and on securing a copy of Le Monde. I see from reading through Hansard that this is at least the second time that he has done so—in the previous debate he secured a copy from the House of Commons Tea Room. I hope that he returned it and will do so again today. I look forward to continuing this conversation in the weeks and months ahead.
Mr. Mike Hancock (in the Chair): Thank you all for your participation in the debate.
Adjourned accordingly at thirteen minutes past Five o’clock.
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