Lib Dems 'back Clegg' despite EU revolt

Nick Clegg has insisted he has the support of an "overwhelming majority" of his party following yesterday's rebellion over the EU treaty referendum.

Some 15 Liberal Democrat MPs defied party orders to abstain, voting instead in favour of a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty.

Justice spokesman David Heath, countryside spokesman Tim Farron, and Scotland and Northern Ireland spokesman Alistair Carmichael all resigned their frontbench position in order to defy the party whip and join the revolt.

Clegg, who took over as Lib Dem leader in December 2007, said that the responsibilities of Heath, Farron and Carmichael would be reassigned to other members of the frontbench team.

Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne will speak on justice matters, environment spokesman Steve Webb will take responsibility for countryside matters and foreign affairs spokesman Michael Moore will take on the Scotland and Northern Ireland brief.

Clegg expressed regret over the resignations, and praised Heath's, Farron's and Carmichael's "great distinction and commitment".

However, he stressed the need to maintain "the principle of collective responsibility". 

"In view of the fact that they felt unable to support the party's position on the amendment calling for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, they have submitted their resignations from the shadow cabinet, which I have reluctantly accepted.

"I hugely value the contribution that Alistair, David and Tim have made. Though we have disagreed on this issue, I fully understand and respect their strongly held views on the subject.

"I am grateful for their offer of strong support from the backbenches, and I know that they will all play a very significant role in the future of our party."

Debate

Lib Dem MEP Chris Davies dismissed the referendum debate as "incredibly trivial", and said Clegg's leadership was "utterly unchallenged".

"The man is so obviously intelligent, so disarmingly good-humoured and self-deprecating even in situations like this and so absolutely determined to fight the liberal corner even when his views may not be popular," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Davies added: "He is at one with the very heart and soul of this party and you will see that at the weekend's conference.

"Nick Clegg is going to be leader of the Liberal Democrats for a very long time."

'Pivotal'

Meanwhile, the Conservatives said they would continue to press for a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty, despite their Commons defeat.

Shadow foreign secretary William Hague pointed out that the government has no overall majority in the Lords, and said the Lib Dems could help secure a referendum on the treaty if they abstained when the debate reaches the second chamber.

"It is convention that the House of Lords does not stand in the way of manifesto commitments," he said. "We hope that in this case the Lords will hold the government to their manifesto commitment.

"The Liberal Democrats' position will once again be pivotal. We will see if they follow their three-line whip in the Commons to abstain."