Lib Dems 'hopeful' on referendum

This follows a meeting between party leader Nick Clegg and the Speaker, which was described as "constructive".

The Lib Dems were refused permission to discuss their plans for a referendum during a Commons debate on Tuesday.

This led to angry protests, with foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey being ejected from Parliament.

The entire Lib Dem front bench then staged a walkout.

Treaty support

The party insists its amendment to the EU Reform Bill - dealing with the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty - has been accepted by Common clerks so is eligible to be selected for debate.

The Lib Dems support the EU treaty and UK membership of the EU.

They oppose Tory calls for a referendum on the treaty itself, arguing that the wider issue of EU membership should instead go to a public vote.

On Tuesday, when deputy speaker Sir Michael Lord said that Speaker Michael Martin had ruled the Lib Dem amendment would not be debated, MPs raised a series of points of order in protest.

Mr Davey complained he was being "gagged" and that the situation was "an outrage to this House".

But Sir Michael told him: "The outrage to the house is in danger of being the honourable member's attitude to the chair."

When he refused to sit down to allow the debate to start, Sir Michael lost his patience and ordered him out.

At the last general election in 2005 all three main parties promised a referendum on the planned European Constitution.

The government argues that the new EU treaty is significantly different from the constitution - discarded after it was rejected by French and Dutch voters - and does not require a referendum.

The Tories, however, say they are "substantially" the same and that a public vote should go ahead.