London - Britain's opposition Conservative Party insisted Wednesday that it was "not in turmoil" over its relations with the European Union (EU) following the final ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. Tory leader David Cameron was expected later Wednesday to outline his party's "new policy" on Europe after it was forced to abandon plans for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
The blow to Cameron came Tuesday with the signing of the EU reform treaty by Czech President Vaclav Klaus which means that it will pass into law in the 27-member grouping.
Cameron had hoped to delay the completion of the ratification process until after the next general election in Britain next summer, which he is widely tipped to win.
But as the Conservatives conceded that a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty had now become obsolete, pressure grew on Cameron from eurosceptics in his party to hold some sort of referendum on Britain's relations with the EU.
However, in a speech later Wednesday, Cameron is expected to rule out that possibility, while pledging that he would try to "win back" powers from Brussels should he become prime minister.
Cameron insisted that his party was "not in turmoil" over Europe, and that it wished to have a "fresh approach" to the EU. He instead blamed the last two Labour governments for breaking their promises over a referendum to the British people.
