Ministers quick to downplay Cabinet split
The Cabinet appears divided on whether to hold a referendum on the EU constitution.
Education secretary Charles Clarke is thought to have been angered by Tony Blair’s sudden U-turn last Monday, which was taken reportedly without Cabinet consultation, while home secretary David Blunkett was less than forthcoming in backing the move yesterday.
Despite dismissing the speculation about a Cabinet schism, Mr Blunkett told the BBC ministers supported the prime minister given the gravity of the issues at stake but he balked at stating they were committed collectively and passionately to the idea.
“I have read a lot of nonsense this morning before I came on the programme. All this speculation needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. We are all grown-up, we are mature politicians, we know the reality, we saw what was happening and we backed the prime minister in taking those difficult decisions.”
Trade secretary Patricia Hewitt, defence secretary Geoff Hoon and Leader of the Commons Peter Hain are also thought to have given only lukewarm support to the ballot.
Those publicly endorsing the public ballot include political heavyweights foreign secretary Jack Straw, chancellor Gordon Brown and deputy prime minister John Prescott.
Former sports minister Kate Hoey said Sunday that up to 50 government backbenchers would vote against the treaty if legislation in the treaty went through parliament later this year, after its expected ratification in June.
The Labour MP for Vauxhall told GMTV’s Sunday Programme: “I think there would be a number of members, Labour members of parliament, who will vote against the constitution if it stays similar to what it is.
“We certainly had something like 40, 50 who were supporting a referendum. But of course now you can’t find any MP who wasn’t in favour of a referendum from the beginning.
“I don’t personally see much need for a constitution. I see some need for changing certain aspects because we have made the European Community larger but I don’t see the need for centralising more things. I don’t see the need for a foreign minister, I don’t see the need for just the little drip, drip gradual giving over of extra power to Europe.”
