Britannist

Here's the text I've just written up of the interview with Nigel Farage MEP (UKIP leader) and Labour MP Keith Vaz (former Europe minister) at 10.45 am on Sky Television News on 17.6.2007.

Nigel Farage (F): The new treaty to be agreed this week at the EU Summit is best described by Chancellor Merkel who says it “keeps the substance but changes the terminology of the EU Constitution.”

Keith Vaz MP (V): There is always mood music from France and Germany and from countries who want us to go in a different direction.

F: Listen to what the others say about the EU Constitution – such as the President of the EU ‘Parliament’.

V: Do you?

F: I listen more to what the european politicians say about europe than the UK politicians. For years you (the UK politicians) told us it is about time we had someone there who came back and told the British people the truth.

Interviewer Adam Boulton (B): What do we get (in the new EU Treaty)?

F: An EU Foreign Minister who is desperate to have a seat at the United Nations Security Council meaning a much reduced role for the UK. We are going to get, in some form – and they are spinning on it – the Charter for Fundamental Rights of which Keith Vaz once said that it had about as much relevance as the Beano. That is not what British business think. We will get more UK powers transferred to Brussels.

B: Will France and the UK have to give up their seats on the United Nations security council?

V: Of course they won’t. But, of course, you need to strengthen the role of Javier Solana (the EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs).

F. Why?

V: Because it is important on some issues that 'europe' speak with one voice. It is very important that we have a continuous President of the EU (rather than changing it every six months) and that MEPs don’t have to keep going from one country to another to debate. We do not need a referendum on a basic reform agenda which this Government has pursued for the last ten years. We never had a referendum over the Maastricht Treaty – a treaty which was far more critical for the future of europe. The Conservatives never allowed a referendum over it.

F: It is the sheer dishonesty for the last 30 years in which Labour/Conservatives/Liberal ‘Democrats’ all believe in staying part of the EU.

B: There was a referendum back in the seventies.

F: Yes, anyone under 50 – including me – has not had the chance to vote in a referendum on the issue of the EEC/EU. People over 50 say they voted yes to the EEC (in the 1975 "staying in our out" referendum) because they were told (quite wrongly) that it was just a free trade area for friendship with the nations of europe.

B: Why does Parliament have to consult the people over this question (of the successor Treaty to the EU Constitution)?

F: Because it is a fundamental Constitutional question… (Vaz interrupts Mr. Farage at this point)

V: Not it’s not.

F: …and you can see fewer and fewer people voting. Let the people speak.

V: This is Nigel’s cause celebre. Nobody would be interested in UKIP if they were not calling for a referendum.

B: The Sunday Times today publishes the results of an opinion poll which shows that 73% would like a referendum. You (Mr. Vaz) are going against public opinion.

V: People always say they want a referendum.

B: Then they go and vote against the policy. It is not surprising the Government does not want a referendum.

V: We had a referendum at the last General Election. Ten years ago we were isolated in europe. Now we are in the centre of europe.

B: Are we going to get a referendum (on the EU Summit agreement)?

F: I think we are. I think the pressure on Brown will be huge.

V: No we are not (going to have a referendum on the EU Summit agreement).

(End of text of Mr. Farage's interview on Sky Television News)

Find out what Douglas (Lord) Hurd said about 'europe' in the same programme at:

:arrow:
http://www.democracyforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=21066