Bob Spink

UK Independence Party | Castle Point

SPINK:   Brown's red lines are nothing but a red herring - say eurosceptics

Gordon Brown's insistence that he won't allow EU leaders to back-track on the British Government's "red lines" was dismissed today by the cross-party Campaign for an Independent Britain (CIB) as "hollow and meaningless".

"Those 'red lines' are no more than a red herring", said CIB Chairman, Dr Bob Spink MP. "In reality Tony Blair's supposed 'success' at the Brussels Summit was a con trick to obscure the fact that the EU is engaged in yet another power grab at the expense of British national sovereignty.

"Now Gordon Brown is having to defend a hollow and meaningless 'victory' by pretending that somehow Blair's deal over the EU Reform Treaty means British Parliamentary sovereignty is secure and British interests are being defended. This couldn't be further from the truth. We've been stitched up.

"If Mr Brown thinks that he can use this as an excuse to renege on the Labour Party's manifesto pledge to hold a referendum, he will face big trouble, on both sides of the House of Commons, and throughout the country. Eight out of 10 Britons, and at least two thirds of MPs, including many of his Labour colleagues, want  a referendum on the EU Treaty, which is no more than a warmed-up version of the old, discredited EU Constitution.

"The Treaty contains almost all the old provisions of the Constitution, including a powerful EU President and an EU Foreign Minister, and the end of British opt-outs on a whole raft of policy areas. The European Union already dictates most of our legislation, and soon, thanks to Blair and Brown's sell-out, there will be no role for the Westminster Parliament at all."

The CIB is supporting  a series of actions across the country to highlight growing demands for a referendum, including a major rally in London on October 27 at which community leaders, trade union leaders, MPs, MEPs and Peers from across the political spectrum will unite to call for a referendum on the EU Treaty.

Details at www.eurosceptic.org.uk/referendum