(LONDON) — The EU's controversial new Lisbon Treaty has cleared the British House of Commons, with the bill now moving on to the House of Lords.

Parliamentarians voted by 346 to 206 on Tuesday to give the bill, which enshrines the new treaty into law, a third reading, after 14 days of debate which included a vote on an amendment, which was rejected, proposing a referendum on the treaty.

"The central question is whether or not this is a good treaty for the UK and good for Europe," Foreign Secretary David Miliband said during Tuesday's debate.

"The government and every mainstream political party in Europe believe the answer is yes," he added.

"Yes because the reforms make sense, yes because the foundations of the EU developed since 1958 are reformed by the treaty and yes because the reforms allow us to move on to the agenda of prosperity and development and climate change that we all agree are the essence of the EU's role."

Conservative Party foreign affairs spokesman William Hague said the government's plans to pass the bill without a referendum were in "clear breach" of promises made in the run-up to the 2005 general election.

Hague and the Conservatives have urged members of the House of Lords to back a referendum.

Were the Lords to back calls for a referendum, the bill would return to the House of Commons for another vote on the issue.

Critics have charged that the treaty is essentially the same as the EU constitution, which was left dead in the water after French and Dutch voters rejected it in 2005, and demanded that the government keep a promise made by former prime minister Tony Blair that a referendum be held on the document.

Ministers have countered, however, by saying that the document is fundamentally different to the torpedoed constitution, and can therefore be passed by parliament, and they add that they have secured key opt-outs that protect Britain's sovereignty.

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