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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| EU treaty 'in Britain's interest' | EU treaty 'in Britain's interest' |
| (21 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, expected to be finalised later this year, preserves much of the planned EU constitution, rejected by Dutch and French voters in 2005. | |
| 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 | Completely protected |
| The treaty gives an opt-out on a human and social rights charter and keeps an independent foreign policy and tax and benefit arrangements. | |
| Mr Blair, in a statement to the Commons, said the UK's social security and benefits system was "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 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," Mr Blair said. | |
| This will be remembered as one of the most flagrant breaches of any of the promises you have made David Cameron | This will be remembered as one of the most flagrant breaches of any of the promises you have made David Cameron |
| The treaty is planned to replace the failed EU constitution. | |
| Mr Blair and his successor Gordon Brown insist a referendum is not required because Britain's "red lines" - control over human and social rights, foreign policy and tax and benefits - have not been crossed. | |
| However, Irish foreign minister Dermot Ahern has said it is "likely" a public vote will be held there. | |
| Mr Blair had pledged to hold a referendum on the constitution but the government says the changes included in the Reform Treaty are not significant enough to warrant one. | |
| Amid noisy scenes, Mr Blair 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." | Amid noisy scenes, Mr Blair 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." | 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". | 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." | He added: "This will be remembered as one of the most flagrant breaches of any of the promises you have made." |