Lisbon Treaty may have to be approved for second time

Britain may have to approve the Lisbon Treaty for a second time if the EU grants Ireland substantial concessions in an attempt to persuade its voters to back it in a referendum later this year.

By Bruno Waterfield in Brussels
Published: 6:30PM BST 12 Jun 2009



A demonstrator calls for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty: Despite pressure on the government treaty ratification has been completed Photo: AFP / GETTY

A new Commons vote could prove explosive and would be seized on by the Tories and UKIP who made big gains in the recent European elections on the back of their opposition to the agreement.

Last year, Irish voters rejected the treaty which will increase the power in Brussels power and create a new EU president and euro diplomatic service.

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They will vote on the document again this autumn and the EU is working on a number of opt-outs to offer as sweeteners in an attempt to get it through this time.

The Irish government is seeking legally binding “protocolsâ€