Britannia Radio

A self-explanatory shambles.  

This is a political  disgrace as 
opposed to all the moral lapses!

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CONSERVATIVE HOME Blog  31.3.09
(AND HANSARD!)
Europe Minister Caroline Flint admits she has not read the Lisbon Treaty

Caroline Flint, the Minister for Europe, made a stunning admission in 
the House of Commons yesterday - that she has not read the Lisbon 
Treaty. During a European Committee session, the following exchange 
(not yet online) took place between the Minister and Mark Francois, 
her shadow:

"Mr Francois: Given that the treaty is integral to the documents we 
are debating this afternoon, I am a little surprised at the 
continuing vagueness of the Minister's answer. This is a really 
simple question: has the Minister read the elements of the Lisbon 
treaty that relate to defence?

Caroline Flint: I have read some of it but not all of it.

Mr Francois: What!

Caroline Flint: I have been briefed on some of it.

Mr Francois: That is an extraordinary answer. The Minister for Europe 
has not read all of the Lisbon treaty. That is an absolutely 
extraordinary revelation. It is a bit like the Irish Prime Minister 
saying that he had not read it before the referendum. That is an 
incredible answer. If she is Minister for Europe, why has she not 
read the treaty?"

The Lisbon Treaty provides for: a new EU president; an EU foreign 
minister and EU diplomatic service;  the European Court of Justice 
having jurisdiction over key elements of criminal legislation 
(including arrests and sentencing); more powers for Europol; the EU 
setting uniform standards for asylum seekers; legally binding status 
for the Charter of Fundamental Rights; the abolition of national 
vetoes and new areas where no veto will apply; and a ratchet clause 
allowing the EU to abolish any non-defence national veto without a 
new Treaty.
Caroline Flint may not have read the Treaty, but she has offered
opinion on it readily:

"I believe that the Lisbon treaty is good for the United Kingdom and 
good for Europe."
"The Lisbon treaty provides a simpler, more streamlined EU."
(Both House of Commons, 13 October 2008.)

When Ken Clarke admitted he hadn't read the Maastricht Treaty he got 
into a spot of bother. I wonder how this story will run.
Tom Greeves
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Update: The debate took place in European Committee B. Immediately 
following the exchange above, the (Labour) Chairman Eric Illsley 
intervened:
"The Chairman: Order. The Lisbon treaty is not entirely relevant to 
the documents under debate.

Mr. Francois: With respect, it is mentioned a number of times in the 
documents.

The Chairman: It is related, but it is not the document under debate 
this afternoon. I ask the hon. Gentleman to bear that in mind.
Caroline Flint: The Lisbon treaty's mutual assistance clause, article 
(1)49, is in accordance with article 51 of the UN charter, which 
states that countries have"the inherent right of individual or 
collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs",
and as such-

Mr. Francois: You are supposed to be Minister for Europe; how can you 
not have read the treaty?

The Chairman: Order."

The Treaty was sufficiently relevant to the debate that the Minister 
carried on talking about it even after her Labour colleague tried to 
rescue her! What a shambles.