Sammy Wilson MP MLA

“Wilson welcomes Irish rejection of Lisbon Treaty”

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has welcomed the news that the Republic of Ireland has rejected the Lisbon Treaty following Thursday’s referendum.

Mr Wilson said: “The people of the United Kingdom were not given the opportunity to have their say on the Lisbon Treaty, despite the fact that all parties had promised in their manifestos to hold a referendum. I have no doubt that if we were given the opportunity to have our say, the UK would have voted as the Republic of Ireland has. Unfortunately we were robbed of our promised chance to let Europe know what we actually think of this treaty.

This result now sends a very strong message to leaders in Europe that the European Constitution is dead. It was firmly rejected by the French and Dutch and it was rejected by the Irish when it was disguised as the Lisbon Treaty. There now must be no attempt whatsoever to bring this failed constitution back in any format. There should be no ‘period of reflection’ as there was following the French and Dutch votes. They must accept the verdict that has been given: it is dead in the water.

However it is unlikely that this vote will be the end of the matter. No doubt EU leaders will try and resurrect this treaty and try and tweak it enough so that people will be fooled into thinking that it is a different document. The DUP however will continue to oppose any attempt to undermine British sovereignty and the primacy of Parliament.

ENDS

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