Home What's New Speeches & Articles Newsletter - Jul 2008 Biography Diary Contact Information Photo Album Parliamentary Highlights Publications Links MEPs' Transparency   Conservative Party Latest News from Conservatives.com Conservative Party Website
		EU Constitution: time for a referendum Tuesday 9 September 2003 The Government today released their White Paper on the proposed European Constitution ahead of the Intergovernmental Conference which begins on 4 October. East Midlands Conservative MEPs Chris Heaton-Harris and Roger Helmer have criticised Tony Blair's refusal to hold a referendum on a European Constitution under which the EU would cease to be a conglomeration of nation states and become a separate power in itself with a legal personality, an EU Foreign Minister and extended Qualified Majority Voting on asylum & immigration. East Midlands MEP Chris Heaton-Harris said: "However the White Paper tries to put it Tony Blair cannot disguise the fact that this Constitution is a great leap towards a United States of Europe. This should be the time to put the case for a New Europe, a partnership of nations dealing with the real issues - building prosperity and stability across an enlarged EU. But if Labour are confident that the British people want vast powers - from asylum to employment rights to economic management - transferred to Brussels they should trust the people enough to let them decide in a referendum." Conservative MEP Roger Helmer added: "The European Constitution is not good for Britain. Under the Constitution as it stands we will become an off-shore province of a vast new United States of Europe. Eight-eight per cent of the public want a referendum on the Constitution, yet the government refuse. An on-line public consultation is not an adequate substitute and will not pacify the British people. It's time to let the British people decide what's good for Britain. It's time for a referendum."