The Express, 26th June 2007

Give us an EU vote now, Blair told

By Macer Hall Political Editor

DAVID Cameron last night accused Tony Blair of surrendering to a vast increase in Brussels meddling "without the permission of the British people".

In a noisy Commons clash the Tory leader savaged the outgoing Prime Minister for signing the controversial European Union Treaty.

And he criticised Mr Blair for "breaking his promise" to hold a referendum on Britain's future in Europe.

The row came as the Commons debated Mr Blair's decision to agree the new Treaty with EU leaders at his final Brussels summit last week.

Critics say the treaty revives the essence of the failed EU Constitution, allegedly a big step towards a Europe-wide super state.

In a Commons statement, Mr Blair - who is quitting Downing Street tomorrow - defended the treaty as "quintessentially in Britain's interests."

The Prime Minister said:

"Over the past 10 years Britain has moved from the margins of European debate to the centre.

This is absolutely right for Britain.

"Britain has for a decade been in a leadership position in Europe. That is exactly where we should stay."

But Mr Cameron argued that a departing Prime Minister was in no position to clinch such a controversial deal with Brussels.

The Tory leader said: "In his final days in office the Prime Minister has concluded negotiations for which, after this week, he can never be accountable.

"And he's agreed to a transfer of power from Britain to Brussels without the permission of the British people.

"This will be remembered as one of the most flagrant breaches of promises he's made." Mr Cameron highlighted Mr Blair's pledge at the last election to hold a referendum on the now defunct Constitution, saying: "The Prime Minister has broken that promise."

And he taunted Mr Blair about his departure from office this week.

Pointing to Gordon Brown, Mr Cameron said: "We'll have a new Prime Minister who's promised, unlike his predecessor, to be humble, to be a servant of the people and to listen.

"If that new Prime Minister really believes in power to the people, then he must hold a referendum and let the people decide."

Mr Blair agreed to the treaty after intense overnight negotiations in Brussels that lasted until daybreak.

It was designed to streamline the 27-country EU's voting system, scrapping the right of nations to veto decisions on dozens of issues.

The Prime Minister claimed his crucial "red line" exemptions for the UK from EU decisions had been preserved, including policing, law courts, foreign policy and the tax and benefit system. But new analysis of the treaty details by the Tories yesterday revealed significant extensions of EU control over energy, transport and defence.

During the Commons debate Labour MP Kate Hoey asked why the Government was "afraid" of holding a referendum.

She said: "The vast majority of the public will see that there has simply been a tweaking of words and that this treaty is fundamentally no different from the original constitution.

"Why are you and why is our Government afraid of a referendum?"

Fellow Labour MP Frank Field said a referendum would be "very, very popular" among Labour voters.

Tory backbencher Bill Cash was furious about the Government refusal to hold a referendum. "The Prime Minister knows we have heard all this before, " he said.

But Mr Blair mocked the dislike of the EU among many Tories. "I say to the Conservative Party - for goodness sake, get yourselves together on this matter." He added that the Tories should "get this virus out of their system."

Last night, Ruth Lea, director of Euro-sceptic think-tank Global Vision, said: "It is now very clear that the vast majority of the proposals in the Constitution have survived and there will be a further, fundamental shift of power from the member states to the EU's centralised institutions if the new Reform Treaty goes ahead.

"There is no doubt that the Treaty is a further step in the ratchet towards an integrated European Government.

Anyone who denies this is being deliberately concealing and misleading."

Anger increased over the weekend after it emerged that Ireland's citizens are to get a referendum over the Treaty while Britons are being denied a vote.

And analysis of the new Treaty by the think-tank Open Europe has showed the extent of powers being assumed by Brussels.

The Treaty hands control of 3,500 bureaucrats in Brussels to a new EU president, giving the office-holder a substantial new power base.

Some EU leaders want the post to be directly elected, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy has tipped Tony Blair for the job.

It also establishes a new EU "High Representative for Foreign Affairs" with the right to speak for Britain and the rest of the alliance at the United Nations.

Open Europe also claimed many veto rights were being given up, including over immigration and border control.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said Mr Blair was now just trying to appease the Eurosceptic press.

He accused Mr Blair of spinning his way into office, and "spinning his way out of it".

"Having drawn up artificial 'red lines', he has flown home to trumpet a disingenuous victory in defending them, " he said.