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Yes to a Referendum? A Labour View by Bill Wedderburn

Few will have read the many pages of text contained in the declarations, protocols, annexes, commentary, official Foreign Office publications or House of Lords European Committee Reports relating to the Lisbon Treaty. Still fewer will have had an opportunity to compare the Lisbon Treaty texts with those of the draft Constitution rejected by the citizens of France and the Netherlands in 2005.

One person who has - Lord Wedderburn of Charlton, an ex-President of the Institute and author of many legal books and articles - sets out his informed opinion of the Lisbon Treaty and its likely constitutional effect on the UK in a timely new publication from the Institute.

Following the Irish No vote on the Lisbon Treaty, this publication and the authors arguments for a UK referendum are even more relevant.

Focusing specifically on issues likely to impact on UK workers, Wedderburn places the debate in the context of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the right to bargain and strike and the UK's so called "red lines".

He looks at the future role of the EU Court of Justice as extended under the Lisbon Treaty, with particular reference to the direction of the Court as reflected in the cases of Viking and Laval.

Purchase the book or read the press release

Seminar & Conference Papers

Since 2007 IER's seminar and conference papers have been made available via our website. This should make it easier for supporters to keep informed of developments in labour law. This section of the site will be updated regularly. Click here for a full list of papers available.