All the things our boy-Foreign Secretary threatens us with seem
rather good to me! Since he got the job he has offended one foreogn
politician after another by breaking with all diplomatic courtesies.
Pretty shallow stuff altogether
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Mr Miliband said that European governments were fearful of a
Conservative government that would not ratify the Lisbon Treaty and
that would resist integration.
He said of the European elections: "It's a choice between support and
reform of the EU with Labour... and attack and retreat with the
Conservatives."
Mr Miliband criticised the Opposition for its commitment to
withdrawing from the European People's Party. "If you elect
Conservative MEPs, they will be frogmarched out of the mainstream
European parties," he said.
He also warned that renegotiation of the Treaty of Lisbon, which is
promised in the Conservatives' manifesto, claiming that it would lead
to "a return to institutional wrangling... that would isolate the
UK." European governments were "tearing their hair out at the
prospect" of further debate of the treaty.
The Foreign Secretary defended his support for a strong EU, saying
the union had delivered a strong, unified strategy on Iran and would
do the same for climate change. "Part of the reason people feel
powerless in the world is... political institutions are far too
week," he said.
"The idea that we're going to withdraw to the margins of Europe and
gain influence is ridiculous", he said.
==============
Mr Hague said a vote for the Conservatives at next week’s elections
would signal support for a general election, defended the Tories
break from the European People's Party (EPP) and urged a referendum
on the European Constitution.
He said, “One of the reasons people should vote Conservative next
week is to vote for a general election.”
He repeated his call for a referendum on the European Constitution
saying, “lasting institutions cannot be maintained without lasting
consent” and added “one of the ways to resolve the European debate is
to have a referendum”.
He added that in leaving the EPP, “It is not true that the
Conservative party would retreat to the margins of government.” He
said that major centre right parties are “already working with us
behind the scenes in anticipation of the demise of this Labour
government”.
“It has to be good for democracy in Europe for a major strand of
opinion in Europe to be represented in that Parliament.”
He also criticised “the utter feebleness of the Labour government in
giving up so much of the rebate”
Friday, 29 May 2009
BBC ‘TODAY’ (via Politics Home) 29.5.09
1. (08:12) Miliband: EU governments "appalled at prospect" of Tories
leaving EPP
• David Miliband MP, Foreign Secretary
2. (08:14) Vote Conservative next week if you want a general
election, say Hague
• William Hague MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary
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