European Parliament's Socialists Shout Down Ashley Mote on Irish Vote The socialist block in the European Parliament shouted down Ashley Mote, Independent, SE England, when he attempted to speak for one minute on the Lisbon Treaty after the Irish voted 'No'. Exceptionally, the president of the House [Hans-Gert Poettering ] made no attempt to call for order, despite the tradition that speakers are are at least heard, if not in silence. Ashley Mote's largely unheard speech was: "May I remind this House that the rule of law is far more important than laws themselves. Lisbon required unanimity. Ignore that and you ignore the rule of law. The Irish are not just 10% of the EU. They are 100% of those allowed to vote. And we all know others would have said no - given the chance. They said no despite threats, bullying, intimidation, the combined pressure of the media and all the political parties bar one. Lisbon was incomprehensible, and the Irish knew why. That alone was enough. Like many others elsewhere, they have seen through the deceit and subterfuge of the last 50 years And now, suggesting the process goes on, devising clever ways to re-package Lisbon in open defiance of widespread opposition is an insult - an outrage - an arrogance of breathtaking proportions. We've seen it all before, of course, when the Constitutional Treaty was voted down. The Austrian Foreign Minister then boasted the 36 institutions and protects depending on the Constitutional Treaty for their legitimacy were still going ahead. Lisbon will now give them no legitimacy, either. They are unlawful and must be abandoned or abolished. Democracy is about people making choices - whoever they are...and whatever they decide. I relay a message from Edmund Burke of some 200 years ago - the people are the masters - not you. You ignore that - and ignore the rule of law - at your peril."