EU Constitution “major strategic defeat” for Blair, says Howard
In the run up to this week’s European elections Michael Howard has accused the Labour government of letting the UK down in Europe.
Mr Howard claims that the proposed EU Constitution is a defeat for Tony Blair.
Mr Blair recently announced that the UK would hold a referendum on the European Constitution. This was to be one of the major campaign issues for the Conservative Party, but instead they have faced a difficult election campaign with the emergence of the pro-withdrawal UK Independence Party (UKIP).
A number of Tory peers have made the headlines by defecting to UKIP.
In a campaign speech today Mr Howard reiterated his opposition to the European Constitution saying: “Countries have constitutions and I do not want to be part of a country called Europe.”
The proposed constitution would mean the transfer of “substantial” new powers to the EU, he claimed.
He rejected arguments that the Constitution is essential for the governance of Europe. “The truth is if you stand up for what you believe in, you can get things done in Europe,” he said.
“So did Mrs Thatcher. She was told that there was nothing that could be done about the fact that Britain paid more than her fair share of the total EU budget. People said her “you’ll never get our money back from Europe”
“Well she wasn’t having that. She said no. And look what happened – Britain got her rebate which is still being paid to this day.
“People said the same sort of thing to us about the euro. They told us – “if you don’t join, you won’t survive on your own”.
“We didn’t accept that. The Conservatives, again, said no.
“Britain should start by saying ‘no’ to the Constitution.
“Saying ‘No’ would send a clear message to Europe: we want to control our lives, here in Britain. We don’t want to be railroaded into handing over yet more power to Brussels.
“And we will take back powers from Europe by tough negotiation – just as we did with the rebate.”
Mr Howard was clear though that he will not advocate withdrawal, saying: “If some countries want to integrate more closely, let them. But they cannot force Britain to join them if we don’t want to.”
Turning his fire on Tony Blair, Mr Howard said: “The truth is that Labour have let Britain down in Europe. They have totally failed to stand up for British interests.
“Tony Blair used to oppose a European Constitution. But he’s given in on that.
“Tony Blair used to oppose the EU having a single legal personality. But he’s given in on that.
“That’s why, whatever Tony Blair finally agrees, the establishment of a European Constitution is a major strategic defeat for his Government.”
In a speech last week Foreign Secretary Jack Straw cast scorn on Mr Howard’s promise to renegotiate elements of existing treaties.
Mr Straw noted “changes to these treaties also require unanimity.”
“Yet Michael Howard has yet to name one of the 24 other countries which would have to support him on any single aspect of this programme. This would therefore leave him with the grim reality of whether to backdown, or to withdraw from the EU altogether.”
“But what is unconvincing, unsustainable and absurd is the position of today’s Conservative Party which says that we want to continue to be a member of the EU but we don’t like what the club does and will therefore no longer abide by the club’s rules.”
