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European Union (Amendment) Bill

I think that I am likely to be voting with the right hon. Gentleman tonight, but I am not sure that I shall be able to agree with any of the his arguments in favour or that proposition. Given that the right hon. Gentleman’s Government negotiated this treaty, will he explain why it is in Britain’s interest to ratify it, and what improvements it makes to the operation of the Union? Will he stop all this nonsense about its being different from the constitution when it is plainly the same in substance, and explain why it is better not to hold a referendum but have the issue decided in Parliament? He is getting into trouble because of the deviousness and, at times, the ridiculousness of the arguments he is using, which are far removed from the main points.