Britain is caught in a European whirlpool. While Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants his nation to preserve its national heritage and independence from any European Union intrusion, at the same time, doesn’t want to roll out of the EU picture at all. Caught in this state of indecision, Mr. Brown is failing to answer the multitude of questions that the opposition Conservative party is asking of him.
The Tories say that the new 63,000 word EU treaty must go through a referendum. They have a valid point. Although the EU and Mr. Brown say that the 2007 proposed EU treaty is not the same as the failed EU Constitution of 2005, there’s little doubt that this is just an endeavor to web wool over the eyes. The so-called EU treaty’s 250 clauses echo those of the proposed Constitution and except the deletion of proposals for a EU flag and a EU anthem, the clauses are fundamentally the same.
The Conservatives are firmly against the new EU treaty since they fear that the legal limitation imposed on Britain should the treaty be accepted would be a bane rather than a boon to the country. Mr. Brown doesn’t negate this opinion but at the same time, he is unable to call the shots on the other EU leaders. The British PM can only pledge to oppose further EU changes.
The proposed EU Constitution in 2005 failed because the people voted against it and the EU leaders appear to have learnt their lessons well. Two years down the line, they are trying to exhibit the same wine but in a different bottle under a new label. This time though they are strongly against any referendum on the EU treaty. The reason is obvious: the people will reject it.
Image Source: Merco Press
Source: The Guardian, UK
