Sir, Given that Gordon Brown has now signed the Lisbon Treaty (report, Jan 10), we believe that its proposals have immense constitutional significance amounting to a “fundamental change” to the way in which the UK is governed. This warrants a referendum in accordance with the Government’s own criteria for a referendum.

The Lisbon Treaty represents a fundamental threat to the livelihoods, businesses and government of the British people, and they must have their say on a matter of such vital national interest. It will reduce their sovereign Parliament to the status of a chatting-shop and their elected Members of Parliament to nothing more than administrators of European laws.

With further provisions for the right to strike under the related Charter of Fundamental Rights, European jurisdiction over crucial aspects of our criminal justice system and immigration, a greatly increased European control over energy policy, the introduction of an EU President to manage the political affairs of the 27 states within the bloc, a Foreign Minister assuming control over British foreign policy, and a clear subordination of our own national Parliament (to name but a few changes), our nation is in grave danger of becoming absorbed by the European leviathan.

Given the intrinsic dangers of the Lisbon Treaty, the Labour Government’s attempt to ram the Bill through Parliament without holding a national referendum is a direct attack on parliamentary democracy. Not to honour the referendum — since this Treaty is “substantially equivalent” to the rejected Constitutional Treaty which was worthy of a referendum — is to treat the people of this country like fools.

Bill Cash, MP
Chairman, The European Foundation

Matthew Elliott
Chief Executive, The TaxPayers’ Alliance

Damon de Laszlo
Chairman, The Economic Research Council

Roger Helmer, MEP
Hon Chairman, The Freedom Association

Nile Gardiner
Director, The Margaret Thatcher Centre for Freedom

Donal Blaney
Chief Executive, The Young Britons’ Foundation

Robert Oulds
Director, The Bruges Group

Robert Halfon
Political Director, Conservative Friends of Israel

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