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05/04/2004
Euro elections 'will test public opinion on constitution'
Western Mail

Jonathan Evans MEP, Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, today challenged claims by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons about the effects of the new EU Constitution on UK sovereignty.

June's European elections may be the only chance voters will have to demand a referendum on the European constitution, says a senior Tory.

In a speech on the last day of the Welsh Conservative conference in Llandudno, Jonathan Evans, the party's leader in the European parliament, said the Government had been inept in its handling of the issue.

On Friday, party leader Michael Howard launched a UK-wide petition calling for a referendum on the constitution during a visit to the conference. He said the constitution was "wrong in principle".
Mr Evans told delegates on Saturday:"The European election is of more importance this year than ever before.This will be the last test of national opinion before the General Election. It is the only opportunity for people to send a message to Tony Blair.

"And it will be, probably, the only opportunity people get to say that they want a say before Tony Blair signs Britain up to a European constitution."

Conservative policy on the constitution was "simple and clear," Mr Evans said.

He added:"Our principled opposition stands in stark contrast to the inept approach of this Labour government. Be in no doubt, this constitution represents a fundamental change in the relationship between our country and the European Union. The German government has called it 'worthy of the word historic.' The French government has called it 'the setting up of a new political age.' The Spanish government, 'a legal revolution without precedent.' The Belgian government, 'the capstone of a federal state.' And the Labour government says 'it's just a tidying-up exercise'."

Policies on asylum, immigration and border control should be decided in Britain not in Brussels, Mr Evans said.

He said the Tories had "re-discovered confidence in the values of Conservatism," and paid tribute to Mr Howard, saying, "At these elections on June 10, we owe it to Michael to win for him, and for Britain."

Mr Evans also criticised the decision to hold Welsh local elections on the same day as the European poll. The local elections were due to be held last May but were moved because of a clash with the Assembly elections.

Mr Evans said:"Labour swept aside all proper constitutional precedents and gave all their councillors a further 13 months beyond their term of office. I say what a disgrace. It's a decision to suspend democracy that would have shamed even Joe Stalin and Nicolae Ceausescu."

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