Labour MP Gisela Stuart attacks Brown over treaty
It isn't often that I can say that one of my main reasons for being unhappy with something is that a Labour MP has criticised it, but there is an exception to every rule.
The concerns which Gisela Stuart, a Birmingham Labour MP, expressed first about the proposed European Union constitution, and now about the "Reform Treaty" which has effectively brings it back under another name, should be taken seriously by anyone who wants to see a Europe that works.
Stuart's concerns carry weight for two reasons. First, she is in no sense a little Englander - in fact she has German ancestry and was an on-message, pro-European Blairite until she broke ranks on this issue. Second, she knows far more than most people about the consitution and how it was written, as she was one of the British representatives on the "Praesidium" which drafted it.
The fact that this experience caused someone with impeccable pro-European credentials to break ranks and criticise the constitution should send the clearest possible signal that you don't have to be a Europe-basher to have concerns about the proposals, both in the original form thrown out by French and Dutch voters a couple of years back and as they stand now.
According to "The Sun" Gisela Stuart has accused the Prime Minister of taking a "patently dishonest" line over the treaty. The article by their political editor George Pascoe Watson is worth quoting in full.
"Gord Lying over EU says MP.
GORDON Brown was accused last night by a senior Labour MP of lying to the nation over the EU treaty. Gisela Stuart attacked the Premier for refusing to give the nation a say over the treaty.
She blasted Mr Brown for his “cop-out” on the referendum – which he promised as part of Labour’s 2005 election manifesto.
Miss Stuart played a key role in drawing up the EU constitution – the forerunner to the new treaty.
But last night she tore into the PM for pretending the treaty is different to the constitution.
She told the London Evening Standard: “Sticking to your guns in defence of a patently dishonest position is not leadership but the soft option and a cop-out from a specific promise made to voters.
“The path adopted by the Government is neither honest nor coherent.
“We have reached the absurd position where the Government says there will be a referendum only if its red lines are not met, so presumably it will ask people to vote ‘no’ on a treaty it has not signed.
“The red lines are red herrings. It’s a matter of trust and integrity. A referendum was promised. It should be delivered. If Labour can’t trust the people, why should the people trust Labour?”
The broadside from Miss Stuart – MP for Birmingham Edgbaston – increases the pressure on Mr Brown to offer a referendum.
Surveys have shown an overwhelming majority of eight out of ten voters want a vote.
An astonishing 100,000 Sun readers have demanded a referendum on the rejigged EU Constitution.
Mr Brown will fly to Portugal on Thursday to rubber-stamp the treaty. The Premier will agree to surrender Britain’s power in 61 key areas.
Our national veto on EU laws will go for good on everything from energy policy to sports policy.
Unelected European judges will get powers to set British employment law.
The EU will get a permanent President and a foreign minister will take Britain’s place in some key international summits instead of our elected Foreign Secretary.
MPs have warned Mr Brown that his “red lines” protecting Britain’s sovereignty in the treaty are worthless.
They will not guarantee our right to make our own laws when the EU wishes to act, the European Scrutiny Committee has said."
The concerns which Gisela Stuart, a Birmingham Labour MP, expressed first about the proposed European Union constitution, and now about the "Reform Treaty" which has effectively brings it back under another name, should be taken seriously by anyone who wants to see a Europe that works.
Stuart's concerns carry weight for two reasons. First, she is in no sense a little Englander - in fact she has German ancestry and was an on-message, pro-European Blairite until she broke ranks on this issue. Second, she knows far more than most people about the consitution and how it was written, as she was one of the British representatives on the "Praesidium" which drafted it.
The fact that this experience caused someone with impeccable pro-European credentials to break ranks and criticise the constitution should send the clearest possible signal that you don't have to be a Europe-basher to have concerns about the proposals, both in the original form thrown out by French and Dutch voters a couple of years back and as they stand now.
According to "The Sun" Gisela Stuart has accused the Prime Minister of taking a "patently dishonest" line over the treaty. The article by their political editor George Pascoe Watson is worth quoting in full.
"Gord Lying over EU says MP.
GORDON Brown was accused last night by a senior Labour MP of lying to the nation over the EU treaty. Gisela Stuart attacked the Premier for refusing to give the nation a say over the treaty.
She blasted Mr Brown for his “cop-out” on the referendum – which he promised as part of Labour’s 2005 election manifesto.
Miss Stuart played a key role in drawing up the EU constitution – the forerunner to the new treaty.
But last night she tore into the PM for pretending the treaty is different to the constitution.
She told the London Evening Standard: “Sticking to your guns in defence of a patently dishonest position is not leadership but the soft option and a cop-out from a specific promise made to voters.
“The path adopted by the Government is neither honest nor coherent.
“We have reached the absurd position where the Government says there will be a referendum only if its red lines are not met, so presumably it will ask people to vote ‘no’ on a treaty it has not signed.
“The red lines are red herrings. It’s a matter of trust and integrity. A referendum was promised. It should be delivered. If Labour can’t trust the people, why should the people trust Labour?”
The broadside from Miss Stuart – MP for Birmingham Edgbaston – increases the pressure on Mr Brown to offer a referendum.
Surveys have shown an overwhelming majority of eight out of ten voters want a vote.
An astonishing 100,000 Sun readers have demanded a referendum on the rejigged EU Constitution.
Mr Brown will fly to Portugal on Thursday to rubber-stamp the treaty. The Premier will agree to surrender Britain’s power in 61 key areas.
Our national veto on EU laws will go for good on everything from energy policy to sports policy.
Unelected European judges will get powers to set British employment law.
The EU will get a permanent President and a foreign minister will take Britain’s place in some key international summits instead of our elected Foreign Secretary.
MPs have warned Mr Brown that his “red lines” protecting Britain’s sovereignty in the treaty are worthless.
They will not guarantee our right to make our own laws when the EU wishes to act, the European Scrutiny Committee has said."
Comments