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Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

In fairness, all the way through the Lisbon treaty debates I was not normally accused of letting the Government off the hook, but nevertheless I entirely endorse my hon. Friend's point. I hope that even at the last minute, the Government and the Liberals might decide to join us in the Lobby to help to put right at least part of the damage that was done to public trust by the Lisbon treaty process. We have to acknowledge that that took place and that we are not having this debate in a vacuum. I reiterate that if the Government and the Liberal Democrats seek in a few minutes to deny the British people their say on any future treaties that transfer power from Britain to the EU, in response we will ask the British people for a mandate at the forthcoming general election to pass such a referendum lock into the law of this country. I hope that they will yet recant and support us, but we need now to test the will of the House. If that does not work because of Labour and the Liberals, we will test the will of the British people instead. Question put, That the amendment be made. The Committee proceeded to a Division.