Blair: Coming out fighting

The prime minister has said the new constitution does not establish a European Union "superstate".

Addressing MPs on Monday, Tony Blair said the document "keeps unanimity for the most important decisions".

He said the British veto was protected on key areas such as defence, foreign policy, and budget issues, while there was also protection to retain UK control of asylum policy.

"Above all, the treaty provides for the reform in the running of the Union necessary if it is not to fall into gridlock with 25 members," he said.

Blair said more powers would go to the inter-governmental council of ministers.

And he dismissed as "nonsense" fears about the primacy of EU laws over national laws, saying this was a well-established principle.

The prime minister told the Commons that the treaty "demolishes the myths" about the EU.

"We are in the European Union for the single market and the customs union it provides for our goods and service," he said.

"We are in it for the strength it gives us in trade negotiations with powerful countries like the United States and Japan.

"We are in it for its network of aid and trade relationships with China, India, the countries of Latin America, Africa and Asia - relationships which make an important contribution to international peace and security and development.

"Of course there are frustrations and compromises but the European Union is the most successful way anyone has yet devised of managing relations between European countries whose national rivalries had until 60 years only ever been settled in a series of bloody conflicts.

"Now we not only manage those rivalries, we pool our combined strength for our economic advantage, for influence in the world, for peace, for security."

Responding to the prime minister's statement, Michael Howard said the constitution "is bad for democracy, bad for jobs and bad for Britain".

The Conservative leader singled out the inclusion of the Charter of Fundamental Rights as "a case study in government surrender".

"Why doesn't he lead rather than just follow?" Howard asked Blair.

"The fact is the prime minister knows he has no mandate whatever for this constitution."

Howard also called for the referendum on the constitution to be held straight away.

"The fate of this constitution...will be decided by the British people," he said.

"So why doesn't he let the British people speak, and let them speak now?"

Replying, Blair said the Tories had "everything to fear" from a detailed discussion on the constitution.

And Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy welcomed agreement on the constitution.

He backed clarity on the powers of the EU and its member states.

But he warned that "political elites" had got out of touch with public opinion.

Afer numerous "false starts", Kennedy also called on the prime minister to lead a "broadly based cross-party" campaign in favour of the constitution.

He warned that a campaign "spun from Number 10" would result in a defeat.