London - British High Court judges Friday rebuked the
government for pressing ahead with the ratification of the Lisbon
Treaty while their decision on a legal bid to hold a referendum in
Britain was still pending.
The two judges said they were 'very surprised' to receive a letter
from the government Thursday advising that it was pressing ahead with
ratification.
Their verdict on a case brought by a eurosceptic millionaire is
due next week.
However, the parliamentary process enabling Britain to go ahead
with ratification was completed Wednesday when the House of Lords
approved the necessary legislation.
A last-minute attempt by Conservatives in the House of Lords to
force a four-month delay in the ratification process following
Ireland's rejection of the treaty was defeated.
The High Court challenge over whether or not Britain should hold a
referendum on the Lisbon Treaty was brought last week by Stuart
Wheeler, a spread-betting millionaire and major donor to the
opposition Conservative Party.
Wheeler argues that the treaty cannot be ratified without a
referendum, but the British government insists that the new amended
treaty is sufficiently different from the earlier EU Constitution not
to warrant a public vote.
'The court is very surprised that the government apparently
proposes to ratify while the claimant's challenge to the decision not
to hold a referendum on ratification is before the court. The court
expects judgment to be handed down next week. The defendants are
invited to stay their hand voluntarily until judgment,' Judge Stephen
Richards said in in a direction published Friday.
Analysts said the judge's remarks were likely to be meant as a
reminder of the independence of the judiciary rather than giving an
indication of how the ruling would go.
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