Lisbon Treaty — The UK can act on the international scene without consulting the European Council — rejected — 6 May 2008 at 19:25

The majority Not-Contents rejected an amendment[1] to the European Union (Amendment) Bill. The amendment would have required the Foreign Secretary to make a statement to parliament explaining that he could take action on the international scene without reference to the European Council.

In moving the amendment Lord Howell of Guildford argued that:[2]

  • 'The idea that we should have to consult the European Union Council on virtually every move before we take it, even when our direct security interests are affected in a new and original way, is unacceptable.'

However, Baroness Ashton of Upholland argued that:[3]

  • 'I have already explained—Members of the Committee accept the point or they do not—that there is nothing in the treaty which restricts the freedom of Her Majesty's Government to act in the interests of the United Kingdom. The treaty does not change in any way the intergovernmental and consensus-based nature of common foreign and security policy. Member states are bound only where they have agreed policy in accordance with the provisions of the treaty.'

The European Union (Amendment) Bill implements the Lisbon Treaty into UK law. The main aims of the Lisbon Treaty were to[4]:

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Debate in Parliament | Source |

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Party Summary

Votes by party, red entries are votes against the majority for that party.

What is Tell? '+1 tell' means that in addition one member of that party was a teller for that division lobby.

What is Turnout? This is measured against the total membership of the party at the time of the vote.

PartyMajority (Not-Content)Minority (Content)Turnout
Bishop0 14.0%
Con3 52 (+2 tell)27.8%
Crossbench15 711.8%
Independent Labour0 1100.0%
Lab102 (+2 tell) 046.8%
LDem43 055.1%
UKIP0 2100.0%
UUP1 0100.0%
Total:164 6332.0%

Rebel Voters - sorted by party

Lords for which their vote in this division differed from the majority vote of their party. You can see all votes in this division, or every eligible lord who could have voted in this division

Sort by: Name | Party | Vote

NamePartyVote
Lord Brittan of SpennithorneConno
Lord Elliott of MorpethConno
Lord Tugendhat Conno
Lord Alton of LiverpoolCrossbenchaye
Lord Best Crossbench (front bench)aye
Viscount Craigavon Crossbenchaye
Lord Craig of RadleyCrossbench (front bench)aye
Lord Monson Crossbenchaye
Lord Neill of BladenCrossbenchaye
Lord Palmer Crossbench (front bench)aye

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