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| Britain |
| Constitution? What Constitution? |
| 2003-11-25 |
| Britain is ready to veto proposals for a new constitution for the European Union rather than give up vital national powers over defence, foreign policy and taxation. Caught a clue, did they? The tougher stance was signalled by the Government last night after talks at Lancaster House between Tony Blair and President Jacques Chirac of France failed to resolve deep differences over the proposed European defence capability. The Brits want to have one, the French want to embezzle. Relations between Britain and the EU were strained further when Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, launched a fresh assault on Brussels, blaming it for producing "wasteful" red tape. Nonsense! Why, there are many useful products that can be made from red tape. Like...uh... Give me a second... He told business leaders that Britain would resist the European Commission’s proposals to harmonise rates of company taxation and VAT. "You want HOW much? Are you insane?" With the negotiations on the European constitution entering a critical phase - and demands growing in Britain for a referendum - the Government is deliberately raising the stakes ahead of the summit of European leaders next month. A senior Government source said Britain was not seeking a deal at any cost, and that its "red lines" - issues on which the country would not compromise - were not a bluff. |
| Posted by:mojo |
| #1 Argh!! Uh, Fred... Missing span closer. Mea culpa. |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-11-25 10:48:07 AM |