Opposition day debate on the European Union

EU Council

The debate follows the EU Council meeting on 8-9 December in Brussels, which concluded with 17 members of the euro area and several other EU countries ready to participate in the new fiscal compact and engage in a significantly stronger coordination of economic policies.

The motion in the name of Nigel Dodds moved that the House "commends the Prime Minister on his refusal at the European Council to sign up to a Treaty without safeguards for the UK."

Minister for Europe, David Lidington, responded to the debate on behalf of the Government. Following the debate the House divided (voted) and the question was agreed to (Ayes: 278, Noes: 200). 

Watch and read the views expressed by MPs during the debate on Parliament TV and in Commons Hansard. The Prime Minister made a statement on 12 December 2011 on the EU Council meeting which can be found in Commons news.

• Parliament TV: Opposition debate on the European Union
• Commons Hansard: Opposition debate on the European Union
• Commons news: EU Council Statement
• Topics: European Union

Opposition day debates

Opposition days are days allocated in the House of Commons in each session for the discussion of subjects chosen by the Opposition. Seventeen days are at the disposal of the leader of the largest opposition party to decide which topics are debated. Three days are also allocated to the other smaller opposition parties.

The Opposition generally use them to raise questions of policy and administration. Frequently, two separate subjects are debated on an opposition day.

• About Parliament: Main business (debates)