Brown and Cameron clash over Europe

Updated 18.34 Wed Oct 17 2007

Keywords: David Cameron, Gordon Brown

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron have clashed over Europe in the Commons.

Mr Brown again ruled out a referendum on the European Reform Treaty, insisting it was an "amending" treaty and not a new constitution.

"If we were deciding to join the euro, we would have a referendum. If it was the old constitutional treaty, we would have a referendum" - Gordon Brown

Mr Cameron repeatedly challenged Mr Brown to stand by his party's manifesto commitment and let the country decide, warning that if he broke his promise on this "no one will trust him on anything else".

In rowdy question time exchanges, Mr Cameron said: "The reason you won't have a referendum is that you are scared of losing it."

Mr Brown said: "It is an amending treaty. That is not fundamental change. We have managed to negotiate red lines in Europe which mean that the national interest is protected.

"If we were deciding to join the euro, we would have a referendum. If it was the old constitutional treaty, we would have a referendum."

He insisted the new treaty did not contain "fundamental change" and that the UK had secured "red lines" protecting the national interest on issues like national security.

"Britain will decide on justice and home affairs. Britain will decide on foreign policy, where it is multi-lateral. Britain will decide on social security and Britain will decide on national security," he said.

"We will at all times stand up for the British national interest."

The Prime Minister is due to fly to Lisbon on Thursday to signal agreement to the new treaty.