Blair Has Four Days to Make a Positive UK Contribution to Convention

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 9th Jun 2003

Following the announcement today that there will not be a referendum on the euro in the foreseeable future, Liberal Democrat spokesman in the Convention Andrew DUFF has called on Prime Minister Blair to 'at least and at last to ensure, in the next four days, that the British make a positive contribution to Europe's future constitution'.

In a statement today, Duff said:

"The confirmation that the UK government is indecisive on joining the single currency is hardly a surprise, and merely strengthens the sense of Britain's isolation in Europe.

"Tony Blair has four more days to find his way back into Europe. By Friday night the Convention must have settled the main items of the future constitution. A large consensus will have formed around a package designed to make the Union more competent, democratic and efficient.

"So far, Britain's performance in the Convention has been lamentable. If Britain is to redeem its reputation as a modern European place, Mr Blair has to turn his government's policy around.

"The UK must drop its ridiculous plot to create a super-president of the European Council that would challenge and probably subvert the Commission. Having boasted that all the arguments are going its own way, the government should say why it is frightened of more majority voting in the Council.

"For the sake of the citizen, the UK must put aside its political hostility to installing the Charter of Fundamental Rights at the heart of European unification. For the sake of democracy, the UK must back the European Parliament. For the sake of the rule of law, the UK must back the Court of Justice.

"And if the Labour government, backed by the Tories, cannot accept the emerging, hard-fought consensus in the Convention, the UK should at least stand aside and let the rest of Europe develop the federal union to which it aspires."