EVEN THE TORIES ARE SMART ENOUGH TO GAME THIS ONE:

Peers to push for a U-turn on EU referendum (Toby Helm and Andrew Pierce, 31/03/2008, Daily Telegraph)

Two former chancellors are to spearhead a cross-party push to force a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty when it is debated in the House of Lords tomorrow.

Lord Lawson and Lord Lamont, who were chancellors under Margaret Thatcher and John Major respectively, are among a formidable list of peers determined to make Labour honour its election manifesto commitment.

The Bill to ratify the treaty passed through the Commons earlier this month with a Government majority of 63 - but only after a rebellion by 29 Labour MPs.

The Tories, who will table an amendment calling for a referendum, are courting rebel Liberal Democrat and Labour peers, non-aligned crossbenchers and bishops.