Blair 'will hand powers to EU without referendum'

UK Daily Mail
Tuesday June 19, 2007

Gordon Brown has pledged to hold a referendum on the European constitution if Tony Blair failed to get a good deal for Britain this week.

The Chancellor stressed that he was confident the Prime Minister would refuse to give up key powers over foreign policy and crime at his final Brussels summit. Mr Brown predicted that "we will get what we need" to protect the UK's position.

No10 has claimed it would not hold a referendum on any amending treaty that emerged from the meeting. But Mr Brown told GMTV today he was open to the idea of a vote should Brussels win greater powers over key areas.

Mr Blair will meet Nicolas Sarkozy today. The PM said he would lay down four "red lines" marking where the UK would keep control of its policies at a crucial two-day EU summit starting on Thursday.

But critics said he will agree a new EU constitution that will reduce the UK's ability to block controversial EU legislation by 30 per cent.

Tory Europe spokesman Mark Francois said the "red lines" were a ploy to divert attention from a surrender of powers, adding: "What Tony Blair did not say is more important than what he did say. These are not so much red lines as red herrings."

In another blow to the UK's sovereignty, France and Spain put forward proposals to rob nation states of a veto in 51 policy areas - far wider than Mr Blair's four no-go areas.

The Chancellor has warned Mr Blair that the results of this week's summit must be put to a referendum in Britain if there is a fundamental change. But the Premier has insisted no vote was needed.

Mr Blair said he would not give up British control of labour laws, foreign policy, justice and home affairs, and tax and social security.

But the Franco-Spanish plans would resurrect most of the failed constitution, including a permanent EU president and foreign minister and changes to criminal law that could affect the UK's right to deport terror suspects.

The European Court of Justice would become the highest criminal court for Britain, giving EU judges the final say in cases here.

No. 10 said the PM was ready to plunge the EU into a fresh crisis by refusing to sign up to a deal that weakened Britain's position.

Mr Blair told senior MPs: "Europe needs to work more effectively. What it does not need is a constitutional treaty. If we achieve those four objectives, I defy people to say what it is that is supposed to be so fundamental that could require a referendum."

Reader Comments Print Friendly Page Yahoo! MyWeb Del.icio.us Digg Reddit Email This Page to: INFOWARS: BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND