EU/BRITAIN: A combative Mr Tony Blair has declared himself and Britain "the big winner" in the negotiation of the new European constitution, and promised a "historic" British debate pitting "reason against prejudice" and "true leadership" against "transient populism", writes Frank Millar, London Editor.
Reporting to MPs on the outcome of last week's Brussels summit, the British Prime Minister congratulated the Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, and the Government on its negotiating skills, before quoting a barrage of European political and press comment paying tribute to his own.
Quoting Mr Ahern, the bullish Mr Blair said the new "constitutional treaty" made sure that Europe remained "not a superstate, not a federal state, but a group of nations." And its terms laid to rest the "myths about Britain surrendering sovereignty", he said.
Conservative leader Mr Michael Howard mocked: "Look whose talking, the great myth-maker himself." And he challenged Mr Blair to make good his promise and provide leadership by calling an immediate referendum. "Britain doesn't need to wait on others. Why doesn't he \ lead and not follow," he demanded.
Mr Blair in turn accused the Conservatives and the United Kingdom Independence Party of fearing scrutiny of the treaty in parliament, and again charged that Mr Howard's purpose was to renegotiate the terms of Britain's EU membership.
Casting the Conservatives as isolated, Mr Blair said: "Not a single government of a single nation, either those in Europe now or those wanting to join, opposed this treaty. All welcomed it. All want it to work. Many share the British view of Europe's future." And Mr Blair reminded the house that the Conservative Party had always shared a similar view in office.
"All that is what the opponents of this treaty would put in jeopardy for the sake not of any real British interests, but of a narrow nationalism which no British government has ever espoused, or should ever espouse, if it had the true interests of the British people at heart," he declared.
Mr Blair won a significant boost when Chancellor Gordon Brown insisted "Prime Minister Blair" would lead the referendum battle, not now expected until after the general election, probably in 2006.
However Liberal Democrat leader Mr Charles Kennedy warned that a Yes campaign "spun" from Downing Street would not be won, arguing it must be more broadly based. And Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble said Mr Blair would be making "a fatal mistake" if he went into a general election ahead of a referendum on this issue.
While Mr Blair attempted to put "a positive gloss" on the treaty, Mr Trimble suggested this was of no matter since "the important interpretation will be given by the European Court of Justice."