Major Narrowly Prevails in Vote on European Union
LONDON — Prime Minister John Major survived a crucial House of Commons vote on European union Wednesday night, barely staving off a crisis that had threatened to destroy his government’s credibility and raise new questions about the future of Europe.
By just a three-vote margin, 319 to 316, Major won approval to proceed with parliamentary consideration of the controversial Maastricht Treaty, an ambitious plan for European economic and political union.
Some rebellious members of Parliament from Major’s Conservative Party joined the opposition Labor Party in voting against the government, but not enough to offset the 20 pro-European Liberal Democrats in the Commons, who backed Major and saved him.
Major also prevailed on a preliminary measure, defeating by six votes a proposal by Labor to delay consideration of the treaty until after a planned European Community summit in December.
The vote seemed likely to put an end to questions about the Major government’s future. But it also underscored the persisting split that remains within the Conservative Party.
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