April 25, 2004

Blair 'faces Europe rebellion'

Tony Blair is facing a rebellion within his own party over plans for a new EU constitution, a former minister has warned.

Up to 50 MPs[That's Members of Parliament to we Yanks.--Jen] would revolt against the proposals, according to ex-sports minister Kate Hoey.

She told GMTV's Sunday Programme: "I think there will be a number of Labour members of Parliament who will vote against the constitution."

Mr Blair said on Tuesday a referendum would be held on the constitution.

Thanks be to God!
Tony had been quite obstinate about not having a referendum up until last week.
But Britain simply must vote on this and vote "No."
As the UK is the strongest country in Europe, the EU cannot be the new EUro Socialist Super State the Weasel Axis wants it to be without Britain's economic, military and moral strength!
I'm so glad that a good group of Brits got together, made their "No!" voices be heard and stopped this madness that Spain's evil new PM Zapatero had revived with his willingness to sign the new EU conprostitution.

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock said he believed Mr Blair may "hang up his boots" after a referendum.

He told the BBC's Politics Show that it would be "understandable" if he chose to step down after the vote.

After the "immensely trying period" he had gone through it would be "human" to want to quit, he said.

But there were no guarantees this would happen given Mr Blair's feeling that it was his duty to lead the country, Mr Kinnock added.

Another ex-sports minister, Tony Banks, told GMTV's Sunday Programme that he was against the idea of a referendum but national newspapers had "made it very difficult" for the Prime Minister to say there would not be one.
[Banks is probably referring to very popular The Sun here whose EU Constitution poll made news itself. I love The Sun!]
[...]
An ICM survey, commissioned by the New Frontiers Foundation, showed that only 21% would back the proposed EU treaty in a vote.

Commenting on the poll, shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram said: "Britain's interests are best served by saying yes to Europe but no to handing over more control to the EU, which is what this constitution would mean.

"This poll shows that the British people understand this and they will not be fooled by a government that tries to twist the debate and scare them into thinking that they would be forced to leave the EU if they voted no."
[These ICM survey results say it all about why Tony was forced to change his mind!
Such is the price of leading a supposed democracy.--J.T.]

However, EU external relations commissioner Chris Patten - a former Conservative Party chairman [Who'd I say has gone completely over to the Dark Side since!--Jen]- suggested that a "No" vote would make Britain's position within the EU all but untenable.

Interviewed by The Observer, Mr Patten said: "We've got to make our mind up whether we want to make a success of Europe or not."

Not, Chris.
Not if it's at the expense of Britain's economy, culture, military, history and tradition and to the benefit of only the French and Germans.

[I had to use the BBC's version of this story. Isn't it ironic that after all their machinations to bring down and oppose Blair--most particularly their backing of reporter Andrew Gilligan and his "sexed up" story that Blair and his Cabinet had lied about Saddam's WMDs--that it would be the Sun and the issue of the EU Constitution that might make their dreams come true?]