Tabloid pushes for EU treaty referendum
LONDON (AFP) — The Sun tabloid, Britain's best-selling daily, made an impassioned plea Monday for a referendum on the new EU treaty in a front-page editorial ahead of a major speech by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Publishing its "Sun Says" editorial across its first three pages, the tabloid declared that "Britain's destiny is at stake today," just hours before Brown, who has insisted that the treaty be passed by parliament, makes his inaugural speech to the governing Labour Party's conference as leader.
Describing the treaty as "the greatest threat to our nation since World War II," the Sun warned: "Unless we start that fight today, Gordon Brown will sign and ratify the EU constitution -- the blueprint for a United States of Europe -- within weeks."
"We declare today that we will fight this cause on behalf of ALL our readers -- right up to the next election," the daily said amid fevered speculation that Brown, who took over from Tony Blair in June, may call for an election as soon as next month for a fresh mandate from voters.
Brussels wants final agreement on the text of the constitutional treaty at a summit on October 18 and 19 for it to be formally signed in December, before being ratified by member states and then officially introduced in 2009.
At a June EU summit, Britain secured major concessions from its partners in key areas, notably justice and home affairs, social security, and a Charter of Fundamental Rights; but this has failed to mollify eurosceptics.
Alluding to criticisms that the treaty is the doomed EU constitution of 2005 in all but name, the paper said: "In a gesture of contempt to its own voters, the EU simply waited before peddling old wine under a new label."
The daily warned the treaty "...will consign Britain to a bit part in a 27-nation federal state permanently governed from Brussels by unelected officials and unaccountable politicians.
"We will lose control over our courts, police and welfare policy. We will wave goodbye to our top seat at the UN -- and our sole right to decide when to defend the nation."
