Ashdown says party will vote for treaty
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.PADDY ASHDOWN, the Liberal Democrat leader, yesterday appeared to give a commitment that 19 of the 20 Liberal Democrat MPs will vote with the Government in the Maastricht debate next week, writes Colin Brown.
Although MPs believed Charles Kennedy, the party's president, had left the door ajar to vote against, Mr Ashdown seemed to kick it shut later.
'I am not prepared, and neither is my party, to vote against something we have believed in for a very long time simply to behave in a thoroughly discredited, irresponsible opportunist manner in the way Labour is doing,' Mr Ashdown said on BBC radio. 'I believe it's a vote of confidence in Mr Major's future. If the Government want to make it a vote of confidence in the Government that is up to them. I will vote for Maastricht in its present form.'
However, one senior party source said the Liberal Democrats would vote against the Government if there was a cast-iron guarantee of a general election - a guarantee which they know is unlikely to be forthcoming.
Earlier, Mr Kennedy had said that if Mr Major made it an issue of confidence, 'we will behave like an opposition because we have no confidence (in the Government)'.
David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist MP for Upper Bann, said he expected the nine Unionists to vote against the Government. 'We voted against the Bill on the Second Reading and nothing has changed,' he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments