European Parliament's landslide vote in favour of Lisbon Treaty

The European Parliament has overwhelmingly adopted Richard Corbett's report on the Lisbon Treaty by 525 votes to 115. Richard's report, co-drafted with Spanish Christian Democrat Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, constitutes the European Parliament's verdict on the Lisbon Treaty, which is currently being debated and scrutinised in the House of Commons and will be voted on by MPs in March.

Speaking after the vote in Strasbourg, Richard, who is Labour's spokesman on Constitutional Affairs in the Parliament, said:

"Getting beyond the media sensationalism and Eurosceptic scare stories, this report focuses and looks at whether the Lisbon Treaty will improve the functioning of the EU. The answer is clear: the Lisbon Treaty will make EU decision making more democratically accountable and efficient, and strengthen the link between MEPs and their citizens.

"The vast majority in support of the report demonstrates the consensus across the European Parliament that the EU rule-book should be brought up to date to cater for an EU of 27 countries."

Commenting after UKIP MEPs demanded a referendum on the treaty while dressed as chickens, Richard said: "It is typical of UKIP's incoherence and hypocrisy that they demand the abolition of the EU but then call for the EU to force sovereign Member States to hold referenda. Their chicken inspired stunt was quite apt – UKIP are full of bluster on the outside but yellow on the inside."

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More on the Lisbon Treaty

• Richard Corbett is a Member of the European Parliament for Yorkshire & Humber

• Richard Corbett is the spokesperson on the Lisbon Treaty for Labour and the Socialist Group in the European Parliament

• The result of the vote was as follows: 525 in favour; 29 abstentions; 115 against.

more information

Press enquiries: Contact Luke Thorne, Press and Communications Officer to Richard Corbett MEP

• phone 0113 245 8987
• e-mail luke@richardcorbett.org.uk