Blair begins EU Constitution campaign
In a lively House of Commons exchange the Prime Minister has indicated he means to campaign strongly on the EU Constitution
Tony Blair has said that in campaigning for a “Yes” vote in the referendum he will seek to destroy the “myths and propaganda” produced by those he accused of “narrow nationalism”
Rounding on the Conservatives, he said the treaty is far less pervasive than the concessions yielded by the Maastricht Treaty.
Rejecting accusations that he has committed the UK to a federal Europe, Mr Blair said the Constitution makes it plain for the first time that the EU is not a superstate and delineates the powers of the EU.
On voting, the Prime Minister explained that qualified majority vote will be used where needed, but unanimity will still be required on the most important issues such as taxes, social security, foreign policy, defence and the financing of the EU- effectively meaning that the UK has a veto.
The UK will still be able to opt out of decisions on asylum, he said, and can not be obliged to cooperate on criminal law. For the first time ever national parliaments will have the power to scrutinise EU legislation and send it back, Tony Blair added.
Responding to fears about EU law taking primacy, the Prime Minister reminded the House that this had been in place since 1972, and it is a “nonsense” to claim this is a new step.
The reforms he said were necessary to ensure that the EU did not fall into gridlock with 25 members.
Regarding working and human rights, Mr Blair said that the charter explicitly limits rights to those available within national law and practises and the treaty is a success for Britain.
Michael Howard replied that he intends to fervently campaign against the treaty claiming is “bad for our democracy, bad for jobs and bad for Britain.”
Claiming that the Government failed to maintain its red line issues, Mr Howard claimed that only 27 out of 248 amendments proposed by Britain had been accepted.
Attacking the Government, Mr Howard considered that the reality would be new burdens on business and Britons, tougher red tape from Brussels and a general harming of prosperity. In addition, he suggested that it would threaten the Government’s own measures on asylum and almost any aspect of criminal procedure.
Beyond these issues, he noted that the Charter of Fundamental Rights was a “case study in Governmental surrender.”
Urging the Government to call a referendum sooner rather than later, Mr Howard concluded: “Why doesn’t he let the British people speak and let them speak now.”
No date has yet been set for the referendum, though it is expected in 2006 most likely after the next general election.
