Today the EU Reform treaty was signed by all the EU heads of government – kind of. Gordon Brown signed by himself after the group celebrations this morning, presumably hoping distance would lend enchantment to the view.
What Gordon may think is nifty footwork just looks inept to everyone else. Unlike our own Vince Cable, I can’t see the PM making a success of Strictly Come Dancing.
He had a clear choice; sign up with pride, trumpet his ‘red lines’ and make the British case for Europe. Or say ‘I want no part of this’, and refuse to sign. Signing up furtively achieves nothing.
If the treaty turns out to be bad news, Gordon Brown will still be responsible for signing us up to it; if it’s a success he’s airbrushed himself out of the historic photos. Unless he’s planning to do a Purnell, of course…..
The debate over a European treaty referendum rumbles on. I think debates over clauses mask the real issue. Section 28 wasn’t really about the curriculum; it was the last gasp of the homophobes. Clause 4 in the Labour party wasn’t just about economic policy; it was the last gasp of old socialism. If we are to have a referendum – as we should – then let’s have it on the real issue: Europe in or out.
Just because the Prime Minister is coy about where he stands on Europe, that’s no reason to deny we citizens our say.
