Voters in Ireland are ready to wreck EU treaty, pollsters say

Ian Drury
UK Daily Mail
Saturday, June 7, 2008

Voters in Ireland could scupper the controversial EU treaty, a poll suggests.

The survey, just days before the referendum, found that the 'No' vote had surged into the lead for the first time.

Of those polled, 35 per cent said they would vote to derail the Lisbon Treaty on Thursday - double the number three weeks ago.

Meanwhile, those planning to vote in favour dropped from 35 per cent to 30 per cent, the Irish Times poll found.

The treaty must be passed unanimously by all 27 member states.

It has been waved through by the other 26 countries, including Britain, despite fears over the loss of national sovereignty.

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But Ireland has a legal obligation to put it to the public - and a 'No' vote would kill it off.

Opponents say that the treaty will enable the creation of a permanent EU president, foreign minister and diplomatic service, surrendering almost 50 national vetoes to Brussels.

But in March, MPs in Britain voted against holding a referendum.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats scuppered calls to give voters the chance to decide on the revamped constitution, despite manifesto pledges from both to hold a ballot.
Gordon Brown has repeatedly claimed the 'constitutional concept' had been abandoned and has resisted calls for a vote.

The Prime Minister said the treaty was 'substantially different' to the constitution rejected by France and Holland in 2005. He argued that Britain was different because ministers had negotiated to protect key 'red lines' on crime and justice, human and social rights, foreign policy and taxes.

Full article here.

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