THE United Kingdom will ratify the Treaty of Lisbon, even though it was rejected by the Irish Republic in last month's referendum.Prime Minister Gordon Brown today made clear he is determined to press ahead with completing the parliamentary process of ratifying what critics say is the failed European Constitution in all but name.

Graham Dines

THE United Kingdom will ratify the Treaty of Lisbon, even though it was rejected by the Irish Republic in last month's referendum.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown today made clear he is determined to press ahead with completing the parliamentary process of ratifying what critics say is the failed European Constitution in all but name.

Mr Brown will discuss the referendum result with Taoiseach Brian Cowen when they meet in Belfast today, and said he expected that Ireland would tell the EU leaders' summit in Brussels on Thursday what it intended to do about the rejection.

“The legal position on the European treaty is very clear: that all 27 members must sign and ratify the treaty before it comes into force,” said Mr Brown.

“It is for each member to decide its process for doing so. We will continue our process of debating this in the House of Lords and then Royal Assent during the course of this week.

“I think a short period of reflection is necessary for the Irish to put forward their proposals for how to deal with this. We look forward to the Irish coming to the European Council on Thursday with a view of what should be done.”