Mike Penning has condemned MPs who voted against their manifesto pledge in order to avoid a referendum on the EU Treaty

Hemel Hempstead MP, Mike Penning, has criticised Labour MPs who voted against their manifesto pledges in Wednesday night’s historic votes to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution – which has been repackaged as the Lisbon Treaty.

All three main parties promised a referendum on the EU treaty.

Speaking afterwards he said:

“I voted for a referendum on the EU Treaty. It is wrong for any government to give away powers without consulting the people. I am particularly concerned that we could lose our national veto on a wide range of issues as a result of this - without the need for any further treaty.

“The fact that Labour and the Liberal Democrats have broken their promise to support a referendum on this issue undermines the public’s trust in politicians and the whole political system.

“Their argument that the treaty and the constitution are fundamentally different doesn’t stand up – as in many other EU countries their leaders are selling them as being the same thing!”