MEDIA RELEASE
24 May 2005

Embargo: none



EU CONSTITUTION: NOT COMPATIBLE WITH DEMOCRACY; JACK STRAW VETO CONFUSION

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has today introduced the European Union Bill in the House of Commons. The Bill will give effect to the EU Constitution, subject to the approval of the people in a national referendum.

Marc Glendening, campaign director of the Democracy Movement, comments:

"The EU Constitution will abolish the national veto in 69 new areas and will result in even more laws being imposed on Britain that have no electoral mandate here. That's clearly not compatible with democratic government.

"The recent election showed that people want more responsive government, not more decisions taken by majority vote in remote institutions in Brussels.

"In particular it seems strange that Jack Straw should be recommending this profound political change when only on Sunday he said that Britain would use its veto to stop the EU taking our £3billion rebate away.

"If the government is relaxed about giving away Parliament's capacity to block unwelcome laws in these numerous new areas, why not give it away in relation to all policy areas, including the payments national governments have to hand over to the fraud- ridden Brussels budget?

"Jack Straw needs to make up his mind - either we need the ability to block unwelcome EU decisions or we don't."

<Ends>

For more information, contact Marc Glendening on 020 8570 5861 or by e-mail.


NOTES:

  1. The Democracy Movement is the non-party grass-roots campaign against the EU Constitution - a campaign to save democracy and for a more modern, truly international future for Britain.

    With over 325,000 registered supporters and 120 local branches nationwide, it is the largest non-party organisation campaigning on the issue of Britain's relationship with the European Union and will play a leading grass-roots role in the campaign for a 'No' to the EU Constitution.
 
All Rights Reserved. © Democracy Movement 2005