Local MEP says Constitution would be 'Bad for Britain' 24/06/04

Theresa Villiers – Conservative Member of the European Parliament for London – has condemned Tony Blair’s decision to sign the European Constitution as bad for Britain and bad for Europe.

Local Conservative MEPs are concerned the European Constitution is a stepping-stone to a country called ‘Europe’ and undermines Britain’s interests.

Theresa Villiers said:

"The European elections showed that a clear majority of British voters oppose this European Constitution. Tony Blair hasn't listened to the people – he seems deaf to their concerns and should give people the opportunity to reject the Constitution in a referendum as soon as possible."

"The Constitution would give European judges major new powers over our daily lives. How businesses are run, civil liberties, criminal sentences and British courts - Europe will now have more control over these areas of our national life. It would also give the EU new powers over asylum and immigration. That's why Conservative MEPs oppose the Constitution, as it will damage British jobs, living standards and our democracy. The Constitution would create a new EU foreign minister who, in some circumstances, could take over Britain’s seat at the UN, with some EU foreign policy acts legally binding on Britain."

"This Constitution would be bad for London, bad for Britain and bad for Europe. The sooner the British people have the opportunity to reject it in a nationwide referendum the better."

ENDS.