IWR in the news

21/01/08

Gord's simply out of order

By Graeme Wilson, and David Wooding, the Sun

GORDON Brown will MISS today’s vital Commons debate on the hated EU Treaty.

The PM will go AWOL for the second time on the issue — and leave it to Labour MPs to force through the treacherous handover of more power to

Yet the crucial House of Commons debate comes as a new report shows the Treaty will give asylum seekers even GREATER rights.

plans to let them get a job soon after they arrive and then give full access to the health service.

But while MPs discuss the Treaty, the PM will be 4,000 miles away — meeting VIPs in

Missing ... PM Brown will be away in during the EU debate

It is the second time in weeks that Mr Brown has performed a vanishing act to distance himself from the European power grab.

Last month he turned up late for the signing of the Treaty in — offending 26 other European leaders.

Mr Brown has refused to honour Labour’s election pledge to give voters a referendum on a new constitution — which the Treaty is in all but name.

But he could still end up with egg on his face if Labour rebels team up with Tories and manage to sabotage the Treaty.

Honour

Veteran Labour MP Ian Davidson has tabled an amendment saying the Commons should reject the Treaty because of the referendum issue.

Thirty rebels have already signed a Commons motion agreeing. They want the PM to put the issue on hold — then honour his pledge on a public vote.

Mr Davidson said: “Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems all promised the people a referendum on the constitution at the last election.

“They have a duty of honour to give the people the final say.”

Last night senior Cabinet ministers were making frantic calls to MPs to head off the rebellion and an embarrassing defeat.

Yet the case for a vote was further boosted yesterday by the Commons’ influential Foreign Affairs Select Committee — which said the Treaty was the same as the original constitution.

This demolishes the PM’s claim that there is no need for a public vote because the Treaty is different. The Committee also slammed ministers for playing down the impact of having a new EU foreign minister, complete with his own diplomatic corp.

The report said the new foreign affairs supremo was “unlikely to be beneficial to the

Rebels have also pointed out that Mr Brown would wipe out the Tory lead in the polls if he kept his promise to let the people decide on the Treaty.

They say that calling a referendum — which has been demanded by eight out of ten voters — would turn around Labour’s fortunes with a five-point “bounce”.

Ex-minister Kate Hoey, who has backed the rebel amendment, said: “The British public have made it clear they want a referendum. This debate will give many MPs the chance to show that they mean what they say when they make a promise.

“If Gordon Brown changed his mind on a referendum and honoured the Party’s manifesto promise, his standing in the polls would immediately be improved.”

But calls for a referendum were brushed aside yesterday by the Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

Despite the Select Committee’s conclusion that there was no “material difference” between the constitution and the EU Treaty, he insisted there was no need to give the British people a say.

Asked on BBC1’s Politics Show if a national vote would be held, he declared: “I don’t believe this Treaty meets the bar of fundamental constitutional reform that should be the basis of having a referendum.”

Pressed on whether this meant there would never be a referendum, Mr Miliband added contemptuously: “On this Treaty, no. Absolutely not.”

Meanwhile, the Open Europe think-tank has analysed the new asylum plans being drawn up by the European Commission.

As well as the proposals on work and health care, could also be forced to release failed asylum seekers while they appeal against their removal.

It raises fears that hundreds will simply vanish.

Critics also fear the job proposals will wreck Gordon Brown’s pledge of British jobs for British workers.

And access to the NHS could pile more pressure on already struggling hospitals.

Under the Treaty, will have to sign up to the asylum changes or throw out all existing EU laws on the issue.

The Treaty also talks about creating “uniform” conditions for asylum seekers across

Open director Neil O’Brien said: “The new Treaty ties our hands. People will not understand why should be allowed to over-rule our politicians on an issue which will have such a big impact.”

AROUND 500,000 voters in ten of the country’s most marginal Labour and Lib Dem seats will vote in their own mini-referendum on the constitution.

The I Want A Referendum campaign will stage the contests next month — including one in the East Renfrewshire constituency of Labour’s minister Jim Murphy, an outspoken supporter of the Treaty.