The Workers’ Party in Northern Ireland have called for the House of Commons to reject the Lisbon Treaty at a crucial Westminster vote tonight and in particular they have called on the British Labour Party to live up to the manifesto on which they stood at the last UK election and hold a referendum.

Workers’ Party Northern Ireland Chairman Tommy Owens said that the outgoing Labour government had strongly pledged before the last general election to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution and as the Lisbon Treaty is basically the same treaty they should be held to that promise by Labour MPs.

“Gordon Brown and his cabinet often lecture other countries on democracy yet they seem happy to change the rules of the European Union without allowing the people of Europe a say.  Of the 27 member states of the EU, only the Republic of Ireland is holding a referendum and this is only because its constitution currently requires this.  The Lisbon Treaty has exactly the same implications for the people of Northern Ireland and for that reason the Workers’ Party is calling on Labour MPs to vote down the Lisbon Treaty in tonight’s Commons vote and let the people decide the matter”.