It's totally unacceptable for those we elect to hand over powers to an overseas institution - one that's not accountable to ordinary people in any meaningful way - without seeking our specific approval first.

Especially when they promised us a referendum in the first place!

The whole story of this treaty has been one democratic outrage after another.

We have to ask ourselves how so many irresponsible people, with such a lax attitude to democratic principles, ever got elected to be MPs in the first place. The answer is probably not enough people paying attenion and voting at election time.

Stuart Coster, London, UK

Its time for direct action. A march of millions of Britons through London would wake this Government up and also remind H M that she has a constitutional role. Ma'am its about time you started to take an interest in your ordinary subjects and ask the P M how he can justify his undemocratic actions.

Riley, Kyiv, Ukraine

Kenneth Clarke and other supporters of the present EU Reform Treaty claim that the terms of the Treaty are too complex for the general public to understand therefore a referendum would be meaningless. However Ken Clarke has admitted that, as a member of the then government, he voted for the Maastricht Treaty without actually reading it.

Brian Christley, Abergele, UK

Anyone who believes we still live in a democracy is a fool. While we remain members of the EU we will never live in a democratic country. This regime we live under will continue to take away any say we may have about the way we live our lives. The EU Treaty/Constiution is the last piece of paper to complete the British giveaway by our Government.

Wendy Mills, Leominster, Herefordshire

It makes sense not to tell the MPs the details of the treaty, otherwise they might vote the wrong way. The alternative of producing a 'dodgy dossier' on it would be expensive and subject to endless discontenet once the truth was realised.

The overall effect is very much like the Russian elections. Stifle or ban opposition, and walk off with the warm glow of a democratic victory. Ah, yes! Democracy...

Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire

/It is reported that, at the time of the first vote on the treaty, there was not a full English translation of the treaty available to MPs
If this is true, this is a travesty of democracy, and the Speaker should not have allowed the debate to proceed.

K Wells, Bognor Regis, E

Just what did Gordon Brown sign in Lisbon was it a piece of paper bearing the words "To be advised". Is Gordon Brown in the habit of signing documents that he hasn't read because they don't exist. He was so anxious to hammer the last nail into England's coffin that it didn't matter how the death certificate was worded.

Bernard Maddox, Stevenage,

"The paper, from the office of the president of the EU, reveals that matters such as the possibility of a European army and the powers of an EU president will not be determined until after the revived constitution has been pushed through."

I can imagine. The spectacle already reminds of pigs rolling in ...

Edwin, Bucharest,

The British people were promised a referendum on the treaty by all the major parties . Neither the Labour party or the Lib Dems feel able to keep their promise ,both partys' manifestos clearly not being worth the paper they were written on .
The electorate will not forget and in fact they will be reminded every time such documents as the above are revealed. Frustration will grow at this betrayal, which will only be released at the next election.

David, Hull,