Pot... kettle

The Prime Minister has delivered a statement to the House of Commons regarding last week's European Council meeting, with more than a few questions directed towards him regarding the hoo-ha surrounding Tony Blair's candidacy to be the EU's first permanent President.

A question from Labour MP Ian Davidson made reference to the news this morning that the Conservatives have indicated they are unlikely to 'un-pick' the Lisbon Treaty via a referendum if it has already been ratified. He suggested that those who "capitulate" on their pledges betray the promises made to the British people.

Quite extraordinarily, Gordon Brown seemed to agree with him, and said that David Cameron had made a "cast-iron guarantee" to hold a referendum, and that it was now up to the leader of the Opposition to make his position on the Lisbon Treaty known.

Perhaps someone should remind the Prime Minister of his own words:

12 May 2004: "If we secure a treaty that is acceptable for Britain, then i believe we can also put it successfully to the British people."

24 June 2007: "The manifesto is what we put to the public. We've got to honour that manifesto. That is an issue of trust for me with the electorate."

and those of the Labour Party manifesto in 2005:

"The new Constitutional Treaty ensures the new Europe can work effectively...We will put it to the British people in a referendum."

This has a very strong and ugly odour of the pot calling the kettle black.

PS - With the debate about the Tories and their Europe policy really cranking up now, watch this space for Open Europe's upcoming take on what should be done...