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David Cameron has tried to counter criticism of his European policy by promising no future British powers would ever be handed over to the EU without a referendum.
An amendment would be made to the European Communities Act 1972 will secure the promise and make sure “this never, ever happens again".
The Tory leader also pledged to instigate a United Kingdom sovereignty bill, which would establish that British law overrules European law.
At a speech given to journalists this afternoon, Mr Cameron struggled to answer whether that would mean the British Supreme Court overruled its European counterparts – a move many constitutional experts suggest would entail a dramatically new relationship with the EU.
The Conservative leader also pledged to secure an opt-out from the charter of fundamental rights, as well as social rights.
The pledges came as Conservative HQ was forced to bat away fairly savage criticism of the Tory leader, who came under unprecedented pressure on the European issue today following the ratification of the Lisbon treaty across Europe.
The Tory leader faced accusations of cowardice since the Czech Republic signed off on the treaty yesterday, as his previous "cast iron" commitment to a referendum on the treaty changed to suggestions that a referendum was no longer possible.
He was mercilessly mocked by the prime minister and Labour MPs during PMQs earlier today. Gordon Brown said the he wouldn't use the phrase 'iron cast guarantee' because "it has become so devalued”, to laughs and jeers from the Conservative benches.
Former home secretary David Blunkett suggested Mr Cameron's cast iron was made of plywood.
But the development instantly undermined Mr Cameron's authority. This morning, former Tory leadership contender David Davis called on Mr Cameron to hold a referendum on Europe within three months of coming to power.
"We should have a referendum, not on the treaty, but on the negotiating mandate that the British government takes to the European Union," he wrote in the Daily Mail.
Mr Cameron called that suggestion "phoney" during his speech today.
The Lisbon treaty will be signed into law on December 1st.
PALERMO, Italy (Reuters) - Italian police arrested a top Sicilian mafia boss on Sunday who had been a fugitive for more than 15 years, dealing what a minister said was a major blow to the crime syndicate.
