Blair pledges full support for EU Constitution

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The British Labour party's manifesto has promised a "wholehearted" campaign in favour of the EU Constitution, with media suggesting that all members of a future Labour government must support the new treaty in the run up to the referendum.

Labour unveiled its key election document on Wednesday (13 April), days ahead of the poll scheduled for 5 May.

The manifesto hails the benefits of Britain's EU membership, while pointing out that the UK has moved from, "marginal players, often ignored, to leaders in the European Union", as a result of the Labour government´s policies since 1997.

The document argues the new constitution, "sets out what the EU can do and what it cannot," and it is therefore, "a good treaty for Britain and for the new Europe."

"We will put it to the British people in a referendum and campaign whole-heartedly for a 'Yes' vote to keep Britain a leading nation in Europe," the manifesto states.

Some UK media have suggested there is disagreement within the party on whether or not all ministers would still be bound to support the constitution after the general elections.

Under the proposal, even lower ranking ministers would risk being sacked if they express the wrong view during the pre-referendum campaign.

Some Labour figures have criticised the move, referring to the 1975 referendum reaffirming Britain's EU membership under Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson, who allowed ministers to vote freely.

Mr Gary Titley (PSE), the leader of British Labour party MEPs remarked, "there is nothing wrong with the proposal, as the constitution will first have to get through parliament, so those who oppose it can express their opinion there".

"However, once it gets approved and put to people in a referendum, the government should fully stand by it, as is common in other countries," he told EUobserver.

Mr Titley added that Labour's EU policy would not change if the party won a third consecutive victory.

"We would remain involved with Europe, trying hard to make it work better and more effectively," he indicated.

The Labour manifesto also states its government would, "bring closer EU membership for Turkey, the Balkans and Eastern Europe", and work to build stronger EU defence capabilities in harmony with NATO.

Concerning the euro, Labour suggested it would keep its, "common-sense policy", referring to the five economic tests that must be met before any decision to join can be made.

Should the tests be met, the Government would put it to a vote in parliament and hold a national referendum.

I still think it was the Royals and the old line British establishment that pushed Blair over whatever scruples he had in backing us.

One must remember one thing: Without the "special relationship," and the ability - real or imagined - to "intermediate" with the US - Blair really has no leverage at all in dealing with the other larger nations of the "Old Europe" nations of the EU and their various minions. This would be true of any PM of the UK, but it is particularly true of Blair given that he too is of the left. Much of what the UK takes to the table in the EU is based on its relations with the USA, and this is true in both the official and the private realms

Yes, Kudos to Blair for supporting us in our hour of need, and, yes, there was true loyalty, honor and even courage in the mix, but there as well were pragmatic reasons behind his support. We should never forget that Blair is a socialist and that labor's policies are a complete disaster, nor forget that Labor, like all of the left, sharpen their knives for the killing blow on our mutual civilization and culture.

One also should realize that it would not be inkeeping with the British character to abandon the USA in its hour of need given all that has transpired between our two nations in the last century. Whatever faults the Brits may possess, disloyalty, cowardice, ingratitude and dishonorableness are not among them.

We, of course, cannot rely one this forever - perhaps never again, given all the agitprop the leftist's have put out - but the at the time he stood by us it would seem unimaginable that the British people would have not stood by us.

Perhaps when all of this has passed, when Bush has been proved right by history, we can again expect unwavering support from the UK, but we should not forget what dark forces are gathering on the left in the EU and the UK. Much of Blair's program is violently against almost every hope, value, morality, and institution that we cherish here on FR.

Blair is a complicated figure in that he is not an atheist and seems to honestly believe in his program. Still, his trajectory will lead the UK towards perdition. As that wise once said, that road is paved with good intentions.

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