U.K. Tories resign from Euro Parliament

LONDON, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Two British conservatives say they are resigning from the European Parliament to protest the scrapping of plans for a referendum on the EU's Lisbon treaty.

Daniel Hannan and Roger Helmer stepped down separately, but expressed similar disappointment in Tory leadership on the treaty.

"We need a broad movement within the Conservative party that will push for referendums, citizens' initiatives and the rest of the paraphernalia of direct democracy," Hannan said in a written statement. "I don't just mean a referendum on Europe -- though, naturally, that is the obvious place to start."

Helmer said in a separate statement that the Conservatives' policy was "confused" and "essentially cosmetic."

The Guardian reported Thursday that the announcements could be a political blow to Tory leader David Cameron, who had sought to delay the EU referendum until after Britain's general elections.

Hannan, whom the Guardian described as a leading British "Euroskeptic," countered that nearly 700 members of Parliament had been elected on campaign planks promising the Lisbon treaty referendum.