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U.K. Tories resign from Euro Parliament

LONDON (UPI) -- Two British conservatives say they are resigning from the European Parliament to protest the scrapping of plans for a referendum on the EU's Lisbon treaty.

Daniel Hannan and Roger Helmer stepped down separately, but expressed similar disappointment in Tory leadership on the treaty.

"We need a broad movement within the Conservative party that will push for referendums, citizens' initiatives and the rest of the paraphernalia of direct democracy," Hannan said in a written statement. "I don't just mean a referendum on Europe -- though, naturally, that is the obvious place to start."

Helmer said in a separate statement that the Conservatives' policy was "confused" and "essentially cosmetic."

The Guardian reported Thursday that the announcements could be a political blow to Tory leader David Cameron, who had sought to delay the EU referendum until after Britain's general elections.

Hannan, whom the Guardian described as a leading British "Euroskeptic," countered that nearly 700 members of Parliament had been elected on campaign planks promising the Lisbon treaty referendum.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 11/05/2009

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