In his last European summit before Gordon Brown becomes British Prime Minister on Wednesday (from Wednesday, there'll be no more Blair!!!!!), The Sun asks.........
Napoleon or Wellington, Blair?
So far, 116,000 Sun readers have said that Blair should NOT back the new EU treaty, and there's still time to vote
Wellington ... PM can be a hero like the Duke at The Battle of Waterloo
By GEORGE PASCOE WATSON
JUNE 21, 2007
The Sun
TONY Blair heads to Brussels today to negotiate an EU treaty which could hand over British powers to Europe.
But as he faces his Waterloo will the PM turn out to be a NAPOLEON — by fulfilling Bonaparte’s dream of European domination — and sign up.
Or will he be a DUKE OF WELLINGTON by giving the treaty the good old British Wellington boot.
Napoleon’s bid to rule Britain and Europe was defeated by Wellington at Waterloo on June 18, 1815 — the anniversary was just three days ago.
Mr Blair has repeatedly ruled out a referendum on the Treaty issue. Yet 116,000 Sun readers have demanded the PM should not cave-in to the Brussels’ power grab.
Critics say the dossier, called the Reform Treaty, is virtually the same as the rejected EU Constitution.
It will rob us of powers to set our own laws and put industry back 30 years.
The PM could sign the treaty tomorrow. But he insisted last night it was “touch and go” whether there would be any deal because his demands may not be met.
Poland could also derail the process by reopening the question of voting rights.
Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “This Government has no democratic mandate to bring in parts of the Constitution without a referendum.” But Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett insisted the PM will not sign anything bad for Britain.
Napoleon ... this is NOT the Blair we want
Early drafts of the document show Britain will surrender 30 per cent of its VOTING POWER in EU meetings.
This will make it far harder to stop barmy EU diktats becoming UK law.
Britain’s VETOES will be axed in as many as 51 areas.
This means we will no longer be able to opt out of EU laws that would harm our economy or way of life.
Our POLICING and our JUSTICE systems would also be set by Brussels.
A FOREIGN MINISTER for the EU would speak on Britain’s behalf and could lead to Britain losing its seat on the UN Security Council.
The treaty will also mean the EU has a “legal personality”, giving it the power to forge international treaties. This would bind Britain into EU ties with countries whether or not we agree.
The power to set TAX and SPEND policy could also be stripped away. The Commission also wants to rob us of our right to set SOCIAL SECURITY payments.
Experts say the draft Treaty would mean huge changes to BRITISH LAW.
They say a Charter of Fundamental Rights would become more legally-binding than UK law.
The Charter will also lumber Britain’s economy with job-destroying EU laws.
Mr Blair said there would have to be something “British specific” written in to the Charter for him to accept it.
He said: “We need to have it belt and braces bolted down that it will not change British law.”
He said if changes were more than just amendments “we would have to have a referendum and we might as well give the whole thing up.”
Britain will also be forced to surrender control of its DEFENCE under German proposals leaked last night.
They want a common European defence, stripping Britain of the power to send our troops into action.
Mr Blair promised a referendum on the Constitution two years ago. But it was dumped when French and Dutch voters rejected it.
But PM-in-waiting Gordon Brown has promised a referendum if Mr Blair agrees to surrender too much power.
We won in 1815
The British, in the famous bright red uniforms, advancing towards the enemy during the Battle of Waterlooo, 1815
THE Battle of Waterloo was fought between France, commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte, and Britain on June 18, 1815.
Britain’s victory, led by the Duke of Wellington, put an end to Napoleon’s reign as Emperor of France.
The battle site in Belgium is seven miles south of Brussels, where EU leaders meet. Waterloo train station in London was named after it.
The battle ended 20 years of fighting between France and other countries — as Napoleon tried to form a European superstate. More than 180,000 men on both sides fought, and 50,000 died on the battlefield.
With his armies defeated, Napoleon was captured and exiled to the island of Saint Helena, in the South Atlantic, where he died in 1821.
****************************
Political Editor
NO wonder the EU is conducting this shabby deal in secret.
Whatever deal is done, Britain will shed power and influence to the EU.
The only way of protecting the UK’s right to set its own laws is through the ballot box.
And that means a referendum on whatever EU leaders cook up this weekend.
Tony Blair says he won’t sign away powers on four key areas. He will undoubtedly act tough as he battles pressure from other leaders to cave in to their demands.
And he’ll probably win Britain opt-outs on these areas. But that’s not the whole story. What he WILL agree is what matters. The treaty will reduce our voting powers by a third.
It will mean the end of our veto — won with Mrs Thatcher’s blood, sweat and tears — in a range of areas. I’d love to say which areas — but crafty EU leaders talk behind closed doors.
They know this huge power grab from Britain would be rejected by the people. The EU will win extraordinary powers.
Luckily, the British people have one last chance regardless of what the PM agrees.
Gordon Brown is right to hold open the promise of a referendum when he comes to power in six days’ time.
*************************
Still time for vote
THIS is the last chance to have YOUR say on Britain’s future. Should Tony Blair back the EU treaty?
The PM won’t give you a vote but The Sun will. Already 116,000 readers have said No in our poll over the past week. Just 2,278 backed the plans. Call our hotlines below.
YES 0906 361 2201
NO 0906 361 2202
Calls cost 10p from BT landlines. Lines close at 5pm each day
Napoleon or Wellington, Blair?
So far, 116,000 Sun readers have said that Blair should NOT back the new EU treaty, and there's still time to vote
Wellington ... PM can be a hero like the Duke at The Battle of Waterloo
JUNE 21, 2007
The Sun
TONY Blair heads to Brussels today to negotiate an EU treaty which could hand over British powers to Europe.
But as he faces his Waterloo will the PM turn out to be a NAPOLEON — by fulfilling Bonaparte’s dream of European domination — and sign up.
Or will he be a DUKE OF WELLINGTON by giving the treaty the good old British Wellington boot.
Napoleon’s bid to rule Britain and Europe was defeated by Wellington at Waterloo on June 18, 1815 — the anniversary was just three days ago.
Mr Blair has repeatedly ruled out a referendum on the Treaty issue. Yet 116,000 Sun readers have demanded the PM should not cave-in to the Brussels’ power grab.
Critics say the dossier, called the Reform Treaty, is virtually the same as the rejected EU Constitution.
It will rob us of powers to set our own laws and put industry back 30 years.
The PM could sign the treaty tomorrow. But he insisted last night it was “touch and go” whether there would be any deal because his demands may not be met.
Poland could also derail the process by reopening the question of voting rights.
Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “This Government has no democratic mandate to bring in parts of the Constitution without a referendum.” But Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett insisted the PM will not sign anything bad for Britain.
Napoleon ... this is NOT the Blair we want
Early drafts of the document show Britain will surrender 30 per cent of its VOTING POWER in EU meetings.
This will make it far harder to stop barmy EU diktats becoming UK law.
Britain’s VETOES will be axed in as many as 51 areas.
This means we will no longer be able to opt out of EU laws that would harm our economy or way of life.
Our POLICING and our JUSTICE systems would also be set by Brussels.
A FOREIGN MINISTER for the EU would speak on Britain’s behalf and could lead to Britain losing its seat on the UN Security Council.
The treaty will also mean the EU has a “legal personality”, giving it the power to forge international treaties. This would bind Britain into EU ties with countries whether or not we agree.
The power to set TAX and SPEND policy could also be stripped away. The Commission also wants to rob us of our right to set SOCIAL SECURITY payments.
Experts say the draft Treaty would mean huge changes to BRITISH LAW.
They say a Charter of Fundamental Rights would become more legally-binding than UK law.
The Charter will also lumber Britain’s economy with job-destroying EU laws.
Mr Blair said there would have to be something “British specific” written in to the Charter for him to accept it.
He said: “We need to have it belt and braces bolted down that it will not change British law.”
He said if changes were more than just amendments “we would have to have a referendum and we might as well give the whole thing up.”
Britain will also be forced to surrender control of its DEFENCE under German proposals leaked last night.
They want a common European defence, stripping Britain of the power to send our troops into action.
Mr Blair promised a referendum on the Constitution two years ago. But it was dumped when French and Dutch voters rejected it.
But PM-in-waiting Gordon Brown has promised a referendum if Mr Blair agrees to surrender too much power.
We won in 1815
The British, in the famous bright red uniforms, advancing towards the enemy during the Battle of Waterlooo, 1815
THE Battle of Waterloo was fought between France, commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte, and Britain on June 18, 1815.
Britain’s victory, led by the Duke of Wellington, put an end to Napoleon’s reign as Emperor of France.
The battle site in Belgium is seven miles south of Brussels, where EU leaders meet. Waterloo train station in London was named after it.
The battle ended 20 years of fighting between France and other countries — as Napoleon tried to form a European superstate. More than 180,000 men on both sides fought, and 50,000 died on the battlefield.
With his armies defeated, Napoleon was captured and exiled to the island of Saint Helena, in the South Atlantic, where he died in 1821.
****************************
Commentary
By GEORGE PASCOE WATSONPolitical Editor
NO wonder the EU is conducting this shabby deal in secret.
Whatever deal is done, Britain will shed power and influence to the EU.
The only way of protecting the UK’s right to set its own laws is through the ballot box.
And that means a referendum on whatever EU leaders cook up this weekend.
Tony Blair says he won’t sign away powers on four key areas. He will undoubtedly act tough as he battles pressure from other leaders to cave in to their demands.
And he’ll probably win Britain opt-outs on these areas. But that’s not the whole story. What he WILL agree is what matters. The treaty will reduce our voting powers by a third.
It will mean the end of our veto — won with Mrs Thatcher’s blood, sweat and tears — in a range of areas. I’d love to say which areas — but crafty EU leaders talk behind closed doors.
They know this huge power grab from Britain would be rejected by the people. The EU will win extraordinary powers.
Luckily, the British people have one last chance regardless of what the PM agrees.
Gordon Brown is right to hold open the promise of a referendum when he comes to power in six days’ time.
*************************
Still time for vote
THIS is the last chance to have YOUR say on Britain’s future. Should Tony Blair back the EU treaty?
The PM won’t give you a vote but The Sun will. Already 116,000 readers have said No in our poll over the past week. Just 2,278 backed the plans. Call our hotlines below.
YES 0906 361 2201
NO 0906 361 2202
Calls cost 10p from BT landlines. Lines close at 5pm each day
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