text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Lisbon Treaty - Referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union - rejected
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  
  The majority No voters rejected a motion[1] to hold a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union (EU).
  
  The Liberal Democrats put forward this motion because they argued that any referendum should be on the EU as a whole rather than on individual treaties. As Adrian Sanders MP explains:[2]
  
  :'How can one remain a member of a club when one has rejected its rules?'
  
  However, the Tories and Labour thought this was a cynical tactic by the Lib Dems:
  
  :'He is not arguing about the great principle of staying in or leaving the European Union, because he does not want that referendum at all. This instruction is just a weasel tactic to get out of the promise that he made to the electorate at the last general election to hold a referendum on the European treaty. Nobody who shares my opinion will be fooled by this rather disgraceful tactic.'[3]
  
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  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2008-03-04d.1598.4 Edward Davey MP], House of Commons, 4 March 2008
  * [2] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2008-03-04d.1601.3 Adrian Sanders MP], House of Commons, 4 March 2008
  * [3] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2008-03-04d.1598.5 Philip Davies MP], House of Commons, 4 March 2008
  
  
  
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  