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EC boss argues against referendum EC boss argues against referendum
(10 minutes later)
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has urged Britain not to hold a referendum on any new treaty agreed at this week's EU summit.European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has urged Britain not to hold a referendum on any new treaty agreed at this week's EU summit.
He said it was up to the British people but he could not see why the country which exported democracy to the world would not respect its own Parliament.He said it was up to the British people but he could not see why the country which exported democracy to the world would not respect its own Parliament.
And he urged all EU leaders to resist "ugly nationalism" in talks later.And he urged all EU leaders to resist "ugly nationalism" in talks later.
The UK government, which opposes key parts of the treaty, is under pressure to hold a referendum on any deal.The UK government, which opposes key parts of the treaty, is under pressure to hold a referendum on any deal.
The summit is meant to issue a mandate for an intergovernmental conference to agree the precise wording of a treaty to replace the failed EU constitution.The summit is meant to issue a mandate for an intergovernmental conference to agree the precise wording of a treaty to replace the failed EU constitution.
Britain has said it will not sign up to a treaty that hands power to the EU in four key "red line" areas: Foreign policy, tax and benefits, common law and a charter of fundamental rights, which could give workers more rights to strike.Britain has said it will not sign up to a treaty that hands power to the EU in four key "red line" areas: Foreign policy, tax and benefits, common law and a charter of fundamental rights, which could give workers more rights to strike.
'Killed their king''Killed their king'
UK Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, said Britain wanted a Europe "of sovereign nations, not a superstate".UK Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, said Britain wanted a Europe "of sovereign nations, not a superstate".
But Mr Barroso warned Britain not to block progress towards a treaty.But Mr Barroso warned Britain not to block progress towards a treaty.
In an interview with the BBC, he said: "Sometimes I hear people saying that for Parliament to approve it would be by the back door.In an interview with the BBC, he said: "Sometimes I hear people saying that for Parliament to approve it would be by the back door.
Is that the respect some people show their Parliament, maybe the greatest Parliament in the world? I don't consider Parliament the back door Jose Manuel BarrosoIs that the respect some people show their Parliament, maybe the greatest Parliament in the world? I don't consider Parliament the back door Jose Manuel Barroso
"Britain is the country that exported Parliamentary democracy to the world. Do the British people consider Parliament the backdoor?"Britain is the country that exported Parliamentary democracy to the world. Do the British people consider Parliament the backdoor?
"Do the British people who killed their king to protect the rights of Parliament consider it the back door?"Do the British people who killed their king to protect the rights of Parliament consider it the back door?
"Is that the respect some people show their Parliament , maybe the greatest Parliament in the world? I don't consider Parliament the back door.""Is that the respect some people show their Parliament , maybe the greatest Parliament in the world? I don't consider Parliament the back door."
He added that leaders had to stand up to the sort of "ugly nationalism" that traded on " imaginary threats" like the idea that the EU was becoming a super state.He added that leaders had to stand up to the sort of "ugly nationalism" that traded on " imaginary threats" like the idea that the EU was becoming a super state.
Opinion pollOpinion poll
He said he could not see why a confident country like Britain was not confident about Europe.He said he could not see why a confident country like Britain was not confident about Europe.
hese red lines are so vague that we may have to debate afterwards whether they have been met or not William Hague, shadow foreign secretary These red lines are so vague that we may have to debate afterwards whether they have been met or not William Hague, shadow foreign secretary
And he suggested Britain would leave the talks having ceded some ground.And he suggested Britain would leave the talks having ceded some ground.
"All the leaders say that they want 100% achievement," he said."All the leaders say that they want 100% achievement," he said.
"But one thing we have to accept is that in Europe you've got to be reasonable and rational - and I know that Prime Minister Blair, as the British people, is very reasonable and rational.""But one thing we have to accept is that in Europe you've got to be reasonable and rational - and I know that Prime Minister Blair, as the British people, is very reasonable and rational."
It comes as an opinion poll suggests the majority of British people want a referendum on the new constitutional treaty and do not want to give more powers to the EU.It comes as an opinion poll suggests the majority of British people want a referendum on the new constitutional treaty and do not want to give more powers to the EU.
The ICM poll of 1,000 people, for eurosceptic pressure group Open Europe, also suggests that refusing to hold a referendum could damage Labour at the next election,The ICM poll of 1,000 people, for eurosceptic pressure group Open Europe, also suggests that refusing to hold a referendum could damage Labour at the next election,
According to the survey, 43% of Labour voters say they would be "definitely less likely" to vote for Gordon Brown if he does not hold a referendum.According to the survey, 43% of Labour voters say they would be "definitely less likely" to vote for Gordon Brown if he does not hold a referendum.
'Vague''Vague'
Tony Blair, who promised a referendum on the EU constitution in 2004, before it was rejected by voters in France and Holland, said a vote would not be needed if Britain gets its way at this week's summit.Tony Blair, who promised a referendum on the EU constitution in 2004, before it was rejected by voters in France and Holland, said a vote would not be needed if Britain gets its way at this week's summit.
But the Conservatives say any deal handing power to the EU must be put to the public vote.But the Conservatives say any deal handing power to the EU must be put to the public vote.
Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "These red lines are so vague that we may have to debate afterwards whether they have been met or not.Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "These red lines are so vague that we may have to debate afterwards whether they have been met or not.
"And even if he did meet all of them - even if he managed to defend all of them and could define what they were - he would still have given over a great deal more power from Britain to the European Union."And even if he did meet all of them - even if he managed to defend all of them and could define what they were - he would still have given over a great deal more power from Britain to the European Union.
"And that's why we think he should keep his promise to have a referendum on this kind of treaty.""And that's why we think he should keep his promise to have a referendum on this kind of treaty."