Europe proves no treat for Lib Dems

By David Porter
Westminster correspondent, BBC Scotland

It's ironic isn't it that Westminster's most Euro-friendly party is the one licking its wounds this weekend over the process of streamlining and integrating an enlarged European Union.

Leader Nick Clegg has had troubles steering the Lib Dems

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has been forced to reshuffle his pack after three of his frontbenchers resigned and almost a quarter of his parliamentary party rebelled against his order for them to abstain on the referendum vote.

So what happened?

In essence, the long-running campaign for a referendum on the new European Treaty was defeated by the House of Commons.

The prime minister rejected the Conservative case for a referendum, arguing that the treaty was not radical enough to justify a vote.

After a long debate a number of MPs from the main parties rebelled and three Lib Dem frontbenchers resigned in protest at their leader's orders.

One of them was the Scotland spokesman, Alistair Carmichael.

There is probably no position that Nick Clegg could have taken on a referendum which would have united the Lib Dems

He stood down because he believed the Liberal Democrats should abide by their 2005 general election manifesto commitment calling for a referendum.

Mr Carmichael insisted for him it was a matter of principle and it would be wrong to vote for something he didn't believe in.

In fairness, there is probably no position that Nick Clegg could have taken on a referendum which would have united the Lib Dems.

They're torn between a desire to proclaim their credentials as the most pro-European party and the fear of many of their MPs, particularly in the south west of England, that that position would cost them their jobs.

But, the new Lib Dem leader did not have to choose to have a very public row about this his first as party leader.

He could have given his MPs a free vote on the matter allowing them to follow their consciences.

Portests took place as the Commons debated the treaty

Privately, even a number of those Liberal Democrats who obeyed the call to stay seated in the Commons when the crucial votes were taken, believed the plan may have resulted in ''lots of pain, without any gain''.

Others wanted the Liberal Democrats to back fully a referendum in the hope of inflicting a serious defeat on the government or at least putting the wind up ministers.

Nick Glegg's gamble is that the public will have seen him take a principled stand for a more radical IN/OUT referendum on Europe.

The risk is that the public may recall another Lib Dem split before remembering what it was that caused it.

Peer review

The legislation to ratify the Lisbon Treaty now goes to the Lords.

Here the arithmetic is far more favourable to those backing a referendum.

Mr Clegg will have to decide whether to order his peers to abstain and face another potential rebellion.

This weekend Alistair Carmichael will be getting used to life as a backbencher once again.

His Scotland and Northern Ireland portfolios in the Commons have been given to the Borders MP Michael Moore, in addition to his work at International Development.

He, at least, is probably going to be too busy to worry about Europe just yet.