21/06/05 - Blair Pushing Constitution Through The Back Door, Neil Parish MEP

Blair pushing Constitution through the back door

As Britain assumes the presidency of the EU, the Prime Minister has a great opportunity to make Europe fit for the future but his speech today had the familiar look of Blair spin about it, South West Conservative MEP, Neil Parish, said today.

Speaking in the European Parliament, Mr Parish said:

"Tony Blair is to be congratulated on a wonderful performance before the European Parliament.

Unfortunately, the substance of the speech was a little difficult to find.

Mr Blair talked about being the only British Prime Minister to put the UK rebate on the negotiating table. He said he was a passionate European. He talked about the need for a larger European Defence Force so that Europe can intervene in more crises across the world. He talked about building a political Europe.

These comments all form part of the EU Constitution. I fear that Tony Blair is still trying to push the Constitution through the back door.

We need Mr Blair to either kill off the Constitution once and for all or allow the British people to have our say in a referendum."