Britons Betrayed

The Independent reports, read here in full:

Under the UK's ratification process, both houses of Parliament must pass the treaty.

The Queen then gives Royal Assent, and signs goatskin "instruments of ratification" along with the Foreign Secretary.

These are then sealed, bound in blue leather, and deposited with the Italian ministry of foreign affairs in Rome.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said all these stages had now been completed.

"The documents were lodged in Rome yesterday," he said.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband is due to deliver a statement to Parliament on the matter later.