London's High Court to review Lisbon Treaty referendum U-turn

(LONDON) - A London High Court judge will review the Westminster government's decision to greenlight the European Union's Lisbon Treaty without a referendum.

Judge Michael Owen on Friday ordered a court hearing on June 9 and 10. This comes after a pro-Conservative millionaire Stuart Wheeler made a formal complaint on the matter. He was said to be "absolutely delighted" by the court's decision.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour government had promised a referendum on a European constitution in the lead-up to general elections in 2005.

Critics insist that the treaty is essentially the same as the failed EU constitution of 2005, which French and Dutch voters rejected.

However, Blair's successor as Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, argued that the Lisbon treaty was wholly different from the previous accord and not a constitution, freeing the British parliament's lower House of Commons to pass the bill.

In a press release, London's Foreign Office said it was "confident" the High Court session would prove little more than procedural.

"This decision simply means there will be a hearing," it said.

The Foreign Office underlined that Eurosceptics had opposed previous EU deals without ever managing to block Britain's signature.

The Commons voted comfortably to pass the treaty in March. The upper House of Lords is currently examining the document's text.