Speaking at a conference in London on Saturday 8 May organised by the New Politics Network on “A Europe for Citizens”, former Cabinet Minister Stephen Byers will say:
“The Prime Minister’s decision to hold a referendum on the European Treaty means that while we must continue to make the case for Britain in Europe, the time has come to put far more effort into making the case for Europe in Britain.
“We will need to demonstrate that there is a patriotic case for Europe and the new Treaty in that Britain and its people stand to gain from the process.
“If we get it right then it will allow Britain to enter a new and more positive stage of its relationship with the rest of Europe.
“At no point in our long history has Britain ever been prepared to deny our responsibilities and interests in Europe’s future – we must not let it happen now.
“Today, as a result of enlargement, East and West are now united in one Europe – bringing to an end centuries of conflict and division.
“While this new Europe can bring peace and prosperity it must never seek to deny the fact that cultural and political identity is firmly rooted in the nation state.
“I have no problem seeing myself as a European but I am British first.
“I believe this to be the view of the vast majority of people. It is of crucial importance that this is reflected in the new European Treaty.
“There will be those in the Tory Party and elsewhere who will seek to persuade the British people that Europe is a conspiracy working against us rather than a partnership from which we can benefit.
“Labour must stop being defensive about Europe. This is the time to be strong and united in order to go out and put the positive case.
“We will not persuade people of the benefits of constructive engagement with Europe through silence.
”The jobs and prosperity of millions of Britons depend on the anti-Europeans being defeated.
“The case for Europe is not based on a romantic notion of European unity but it is a hard-headed recognition of how we can advance our national interests in the modern world. Exploiting a single market of 450 million people in order to create jobs and boost living standards – as well as providing stability and protection through our collective strength.
“Once we have the European Treaty agreed then we can make a concerted effort to dispel the myths and sell the benefits to the British people.
“We will start as underdogs, but victory can be ours once the British people realise what is at stake. Whilst the narrow question will be for or against the Treaty, the implications go far wider.
“We will need to decide once and for all whether our future is to be as a leader in Europe or are we to be relegated to the sidelines – still part of the club, but increasingly marginalised.
“So let us make the positive case. In so doing demonstrate that the interests of Britain and its people are best served by being at the heart of European decision-making and that there is no conflict between being a good European and putting the interests of Britain first.”
