Clarke shows Tory promises are a lie

Tory heavyweight Ken Clarke has let the cat out of the bag – the Conservatives have no intention of holding a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

He told the BBC's John Soppel today: "If the Irish referendum endorses the Treaty and ratification comes into effect then our settled policy is quite clear, that the Treaty will not be reopened."

UKIP Leader Nigel Farage said: "This statement just goes to show that all the Tory promises during the European Election campaign about holding a referendum can now be seen to be sheer, brass-necked dishonesty.

"If Cameron's Conservatives cannot be trusted not to dissemble on this vital matter, how can anybody trust them on anything else?

"Of course we saw that 60% of those who voted on the June 4 voted against the Treaty, but they are not the only ones who are denied their say. Britain deserves a referendum, and deserves to be shot of both this government and the dishonest opposition.

"UKIP will have more than 500 candidates in the next general election and we plan to fight every inch of the way to allow our people a say in their own future. Nothing else is acceptable."