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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| EU treaty 'in Britain's interest' | EU treaty 'in Britain's interest' |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| The treaty agreed by EU member states is "quintessentially" in Britain's interests, Tony Blair has said. | The treaty agreed by EU member states is "quintessentially" in Britain's interests, Tony Blair has said. |
| The prime minister told MPs the government had achieved a "leadership position" within Europe. | The prime minister told MPs the government had achieved a "leadership position" within Europe. |
| The treaty gives an opt-out on a human and social rights charter and keeps an independent foreign policy and tax and benefit arrangements. | The treaty gives an opt-out on a human and social rights charter and keeps an independent foreign policy and tax and benefit arrangements. |
| But Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Blair had "broken" a promise to hold a referendum. | But Conservative leader David Cameron said Mr Blair had "broken" a promise to hold a referendum. |
| He accused the prime minister of handing powers to the EU "without the permission of the British people". | He accused the prime minister of handing powers to the EU "without the permission of the British people". |
| Completely protected | |
| Mr Blair, in a statement to the Commons, said the UK's social security and benefits system was "completely protected". | |
| The EU's powers to set "substantive" foreign policy would not be extended, he added. | |
| "The new treaty will confirm for the first time explicitly that national security is the sole responsibility of nation states," he added. | |
| This will be remembered as one of the most flagrant breaches of any of the promises you have made David Cameron | |
| The new treaty is planned to replace the failed EU constitution, which was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005. | |
| Amid noisy scenes in the Commons, he told MPs: "Over the past 10 years Britain has moved from the margins of European debate to the centre. This is absolutely right for Britain." | |
| He added: "Britain has for a decade been in a leadership position in Europe. That is exactly where we should stay." | |
| But Mr Cameron said Mr Blair had sanctioned the transfer of powers from Britain to Brussels "without the permission of the British people". | |
| He added: "This will be remembered as one of the most flagrant breaches of any of the promises you have made." |