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EU CONSTITUTION NOT COMPATIBLE WITH DEMOCRACY
“Indeed, it is only the fact that we have a veto that gives a proper bargaining power to the UK.” - Jack Straw, quoted in the Times May 23rd 2005.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,170-1623972,00.html

DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT
http://www.democracymovement.org.uk

Media Release
24 May 2005

Embargo: none

EU CONSTITUTION NOT COMPATIBLE WITH DEMOCRACY; JACK STRAW VETO CONFUSION

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has today introduced the European Union Bill in the House of Commons. The Bill will give effect to the EU Constitution, subject to the approval of the people in a national referendum.

Marc Glendening, campaign director of the Democracy Movement, comments:

“The EU Constitution will abolish the national veto in 69 new areas and will result in even more laws being imposed on Britain that have no electoral mandate here. That’s clearly not compatible with democratic government.

“The recent election showed that people want more responsive government, not more decisions taken by majority vote in remote institutions in Brussels. That the government is pressing ahead with implementing the EU Constitution shows clearly that they have not listened to the message people sent them just 19 days ago.

“In particular it seems strange that Jack Straw should be recommending this profound political change when only on Sunday he said that Britain would use its veto to stop the EU taking our £3billion rebate away.

“If the government is relaxed about giving away Parliament’s capacity to block unwelcome laws in these numerous new areas, why not give it away in relation to all policy areas, including the payments national governments have to hand over to the fraud- ridden Brussels budget?

“Jack Straw needs to make up his mind - either we need the ability to block unwelcome EU laws or not.”