Brown to tackle Irish no in Brussels
Thursday, 19 Jun 2008 08:37
Gordon Brown will fly out to meet European leaders in Brussels
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European leaders are meeting in Brussels today for a crisis meeting following Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon treaty, with Gordon Brown joining them later today.
Irish leaders will have an opportunity to discuss how to proceed with their European colleagues in an official setting for the first time since the vote, but a Downing Street spokesperson refused to say what the prime minister expected to happen.
Mr Brown flew to the European Council meeting with criticism of the government's handling of the situation still ringing in his ears.
Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP, told
politics.co.uk: "They just don't realise that when people are given a chance to say something, they mean it. And in this case they meant no."
Asked what how he would advise the prime minister, Mr Farage said: "Do a U-turn. You say you listen. Try following your own advice."
The Conservatives are urging the government to put a halt to all preparatory work on implementing the treaty.
"Carrying that on would not simply be disrespectful to Irish voters, it would mean completely ignoring it," said William Hague, shadow foreign secretary.
"Pushing on with ratification would not only be undemocratic, it would not only be the opposite of respecting the Irish 'no', it would not only allow the Irish people to be isolated and bullied, it would be a foolish abdication from a strong position to put forward Britain’s national interest."