Should the mini-treaty be adopted through a referendum?

Gisela Sutart is a labour MP, and is adamantly in favour of a referendum despite the party leader Gordon Brown's hesitation. "The notion that a referendum is inimical to Britain's parliamentary democracy is wrong. It is surprising that this should be coming from ministers in a government that committed to wider consultation and has introduced more referendums than any previous administration. ... Of course, referendums can be manipulated but, in the wrong hands, so too can elections. In a mature democracy like Britain's, referendums are complementary to representative democracy rather than its antithesis. ... Most importantly, the case for a referendum rests on the fact that the Government promised one in its election manifesto in 2005. ... It's time for the Government to stick to the promise made at the last election. In the end it will reap political dividends."

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