UNIONS TURN SCREW FOR EU REFERENDUM

23-08-2007

Gordon Brown has re-affirmed his refusal to hold a referendum over the new EU Treaty - despite calls from leading trade unions for Labour to honour a pledge made inthe party'selection manifesto.

After meeting yesterday with Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel - widely regarded as the architect of the new deal - the Prime Minister said that it would be for parliament to decide whether to approve it.

That’s despite opposition from the RMT, GMB and Unison unions who have all indicated that they will back a motion at next month’s TUC conference calling for a poll.

The government’s get out is that the “treaty” negotiated in the final days of the Blair premiership isn’t formally a new Constitution - and that was the basis of their manifesto commitment to go to the country.

Yet there’s no question that the new arrangement would significantly alter our relationship with the EU, reducing the relative power of national governments.

Britain would surrender the national veto in 52 areas including some parts of the justice system and home affairs; there would also be a full-time president of the Council of Ministers and a European Union foreign minister.

The Conservatives fear the erosion of our national sovereignty, and the Daily Telegraph reports today that are plans for a rally in Trafalgar Square organised by the anti EU Campaign For An Independent Britain (see link here)

As far the unions are concerned, the government’s crime is that it has secured an opt out on the Fundamental Charter of Rights which would have strengthened workers rights.

Birmingham Labour MP Gisela Stuart - who helped draw up the original draft Constitution in 2005 - told The Stirrer last month that Gordon Brown should hold a referendum as “a matter of trust” (see link here)