12 April 2012
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is due to travel to Portugal on Thursday to sign the controversial European Union Reform Treaty, it has been confirmed.
Doubt had been thrown on Mr Brown's attendance at the signing ceremony in the Portuguese capital Lisbon because of his commitment to give evidence to a high-ranking House of Commons committee that morning.
But 10 Downing Street said that arrangements have been made for the Premier to leave London immediately after the hearing of the Commons Liaison Committee.
He will miss the official signing ceremony in the morning, but will join fellow EU heads of government at lunch and will sign the treaty then, said his spokesman.
