Press Release Stuart Wheeler Judicial Review

Global Vision disappointed with Court ruling on Stuart Wheeler's judicial review

Global Vision is disappointed with the ruling today by Lord Justice Richards and Mr Justice Mackay that the Lisbon Treaty is materially different from the Constitution. The Government, therefore, is considered within its rights to break its promise to hold a referendum on the new EU Treaty.

Ruth Lea, Director of Global Vision, said:

"Today's ruling by the High Court is extremely dispiriting especially as many European politicians have made it quite clear that the Lisbon Treaty is the Constitutional Treaty in all but name. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, for example, said ‘The substance of the Constitution is preserved. That is a fact.' Indeed British politicians are effectively alone in claiming that there significant differences of substance between the Lisbon Treaty and the Constitution."

"Under these circumstances, the British people are surely entitled to their referendum on the Treaty as the Irish people did. All our polling shows an overwhelming majority in favour of a referendum."

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Notes to editors

1. Stuart Wheeler was granted the judicial review on 2 May when the Hon Mr. Justice Owen, referring to the Lisbon Treaty and the Constitution, ruled that "it is plainly arguable that there is no material difference between their provisions". The case was heard at the High Court in front of two judges, Lord Justice Richards and Mr Justice Mackay, on 9 and 10 June.

2. See website for Global Vision's polling on attitudes to a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (June 2007, November 2007 and January 2008) - http://www.global-vision.net/opinionpolls.asp