Constitutional changes - 'cosmetic' says Giscard

In spite of all the publicity surrounding yesterday's statement in the European Parliament by Valery Giscard d'Estaing the Conservative Leader used all six of his questions today on one comparatively minor topic - early prison releases. The following is a quote on VdGd'E is from the Euractiv report, linked here:

Speaking at the constitutional affairs committee on 17 July, the former Convention president said: ''In terms of content, the proposals remain largely unchanged. They are simply presented in a different way.'' He added: ''The reason is that the new text could not look too much like the constitutional treaty, so EU governments agreed on cosmetic changes to the constitution to make it easier to swallow.''

His remarks will reignite the debate on a referendum in the UK. British conservatives argue that the new Treaty seeks to reintroduce the draft EU Constitution ''by the back door''. Conservative MEP Timothy Kirkhope said: “The UK government stated that the new Treaty does not contain any constitutional element. I find it a cynical approach.''

He added: ''Giscard's comments today simply reinforce what every other European leader has said about this new Treaty – the Constitution is back. We will keep up the pressure on Gordon Brown to come clean with the British people and offer the referendum they were promised by this government.''

How is it possible that the leader of the Conservatives in the EU can suggest they are opposing the greatest deception of all time when his leader in Westminster refuses to confront the issue? Voters in Ealing and Sedgefield tomorrow are presently the only ones able to immediately fully register their disgust with the treachery of the main political parties in Britain. Others turn will come!