Lib Dems criticise Blair's "Absence without leave" in Euro campaign

1.33.57pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 4th Jun 2004

European Liberal Democrat MP Andrew Duff has criticised the prime minister for deserting the European Parliamentary election campaign.

Speaking at a cross-party hustings in Norwich last night, Duff said that the East of England had a luxury of choice between nine Eurosceptic or Europhobic candidates, but only two pro-European parties, the Lib Dems and Labour.

Turning on Labour, Andrew Duff said:

"The prime minister says he wants us British to become better Europeans. But he shows no sign of being willing to enter this important parliamentary campaign on the side of constructive engagement with the European Union.

"Tony Blair has been absent without leave from this election. Instead of preparing the ground to get a Yes vote in the referendum on the EU constitution, he has continued to fiddle around with his dreary "red lines" at the Intergovernmental Conference.

Instead of speaking up against Islamophobia he has refused to answer the many legitimate questions coming from the public about the UK's present and future role in Iraq.

"Mr Blair's one substantive contribution to this campaign has been to impose all postal ballots on a reluctant North of England. He has not engaged with the British people about the future of British policy in Europe or about Europe's role in the world.

"Even Michael Howard made a speech!"