BRITISH COURT CHALLENGETHE BRITISH tycoon, Stuart Wheeler, failed yesterday in a renewed court bid to force a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in the UK.
A Court of Appeal judge in London held that Mr Wheeler's attempt to challenge the High Court's rejection of his case had "no prospect of success".
Britain finally ratified the treaty on Tuesday.
Mr Wheeler (73), who raised a multimillion-pound fortune from spread-betting firm IG Index, accused the British government of "disgraceful impropriety" in reneging on its promise to hold a referendum on the failed EU constitution.
He contended that the Lisbon Treaty was substantially the same as the constitution, and that the government should be held to its promise, which had held out a "legitimate expectation" of a public vote.
Refusing Mr Wheeler permission to appeal, Lord Justice Dyson said parliament, by ratifying the treaty, had decided against a referendum and it was not for the courts to interfere in the political process.
- (PA)