William Hague: Gordon Brown must give the British people a referundum on Lisbon Treaty

The referendum in the Republic of Ireland has sent shockwaves across Europe.

The grand political project hatched, nurtured and cherished by Europe's political elite in backroom deals and protectively hidden from public scrutiny had met its one unavoidable test of public opinion and failed dismally.

So now the European Union faces a new crisis: a crisis of democracy.

This, then, is the test for the EU: whether it accepts the people's verdict on this latest effort to push for further integration and lets this treaty die a richly-deserved death or tries to override the people's will. If it is the latter, then it will send a terrible signal about the kind of organisation the EU is.

So what now? Gordon Brown has a rare opportunity to exercise decisive leadership in Europe and speak for Britain, an opportunity he shows every sign of yet again spectacularly flunking. His course of action should be clear: to respect the Irish referendum by stopping ratification of the treaty in Parliament and declare the treaty dead.

Instead, this Labour Government has declared that they mean to press on with it. This is the height of arrogance and shows downright contempt for voters.

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Tarn Lass