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| Britain |
| Blair flips on Euro constitution |
| 2004-03-26 |
| EFL Tony Blair today vowed to push through the controversial EU constitution - and set himself up for a bitter election battle over Europe’s powers. Downing Street said the Prime Minister had always backed the blueprint for future European integration - and flatly ruled out Tory demands for a referendum. Mr Blair’s uncompromising stance emerged after EU leaders in Brussels breathed new life into the constitution plan by setting a 30 June deadline for a decision. It looks set to become a reality after months of bickering. The sudden revival followed the election of the new Spanish government and the moderate line taken by Poland which had previously been demanding major changes to the draft. The new mood sweeping the EU summit creates a dilemma for Mr Blair, who was said to have been quietly hoping the issue would remain stalled until after the next election. Conservative leader Michael Howard is said to be preparing to turn the reforms - and his demand for a national referendum before they are adopted by the UK - into a major election issue. Downing Street had seemed relieved at a summit in December when the project looked doomed because of a row between other EU leaders over voting rights for small countries. The delay coincided with polls showing public unease and a growing revolt by Labour MPs unhappy at the implications. But today Mr Blair’s spokesman said Britain would back the deal regardless of the political risks. "We are supportive and want to make progress as fast as possible," he said. "The Government is not afraid to argue its case." Despite polls last year showing eight in 10 people want a referendum, Mr Blair is determined to tough it out. Critics say the draft EU constitution is a federalist blueprint and a giant leap towards the EU adopting the trappings of statehood. It includes plans for a foreign-"minister" and an elected president, plus measures to even out some business taxation and begin to harmonise laws. Mr Blair flew into Brussels last night after his historic talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffy in Tripoli. |
| Posted by:Bob |
| #8 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted] |
| Posted by: Anonymous TROLL 2004-03-26 9:05:53 PM |
| #7 I think it's time for the United States to invest in some nice deepwater mines for the central Atlantic. We may NEED to separate ourselves from the mess in Europe - again. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-03-26 4:46:16 PM |
| #6 good constitution or bad, a case can be made the UK has no choice. Most of their trade is with the EU countries, and theres little prospect for changing that. Stay out and your industry STILL has to listen to EU regulators, since they depend on EU markets(can anyone say Microsoft?). Only you have NO control over said regulators. Go in and you at least have a CHANCE to influence said regulators, esp if you can make common cause with Italy, Poland, et al. |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-03-26 2:58:53 PM |
| #5 Regardless of whether or not you believe in the whole EU agenda, everything I've seen about this constitution suggests that it's a real loser. |
| Posted by: Hiryu 2004-03-26 1:40:13 PM |
| #4 At least you have to credit him for standing by his beliefs - no matter how misguided they may or may not be. Better than the waffleman in our dem party. At least the voters know what they are voting for and he can sink or swim on his platform. I'd prefer that to the prostitution politics of The Great Belgium Wafflers. |
| Posted by: B 2004-03-26 10:51:44 AM |
| #3 Blair may have been right about the WOT, but he's been wrong about everything else. He may go down in history as the worst leader Britain has ever had. What Napoleon and Hitler could not achieve by force of arms, Blair is prepared to give away with the stoke of a pen. |
| Posted by: Bob 2004-03-26 10:48:00 AM |
| #2 He's a "true believer" Lefty (except when it comes to backing the US in the Coalition--Thank God!) and thinks Tranzi Progressivism is the way of the future erroneously, of course. Blair is a fool to try and push this through--Britons don't want it and the UK doesn't need the EU. This may cost him the PM spot and then we can have Michael Howard the Tory--Huzzah! |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-03-26 10:38:41 AM |
| #1 Blair's probably the best pure politician since Lyndon Johnson.... I don't understand his logic here. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-03-26 10:16:35 AM |