Charles Kennedy on the EU constitution

As Europe's leaders gathered in Rome to sign the new EU constitution seven politicians and business leaders gave their thoughts on what it could mean for Britain.

Charles Kennedy Lib Dem leader "Nothing in constitution can force Britain into single currency" Jack Straw Foreign Secretary "EU constitution strengthens role of national governments" Caroline Lucas Green Party MEP "It marks a dark day in the history of European Union"

Michael Ancram Shadow foreign secretary "Countries have constitutions; nation states make treaties" Roger Knapman UKIP leader "Successive Labour and Tory governments signed away British rights" Lord Haskins Businessman and Labour adviser "EU has delivered unprecedented peace to western Europe "

Paul Sykes
Businessman and
Tory supporter

"Brussels is a
government trying
to build a nation

Charles Kennedy

Mr Kennedy's party will campaign for people to back the EU Constitution

When the EU Constitution is signed by Tony Blair the onus will then fall on Parliament - and ultimately the people of Britain - to decide in a referendum whether what is on offer is a good thing.

The UK's referendum to approve the EU Constitution will be the first national vote on a wholly European issue since the referendum on the Common Market in 1975.

It has already become clear that the arguments deployed both for and against the constitution will not rest on the merits of the constitution alone, but also on the merits of the UK membership of the Union itself.

Why? Not because of any entrenched xenophobia in Britain, but because, as the Union has developed, people have felt little consulted and therefore not greatly enamoured of the way Europe does business. They don't feel involved, they don't feel listened to, and they don't feel trusted.

High stakes

It's time for this debate - time for us to decide what we actually want from Europe. I believe, once the argument has been joined, the consensus will be that it's better to be in than out.

Because the stakes are so high, it is imperative that we have this debate on the constitution and membership of the EU itself on the basis of fact rather than fiction.

The Liberal Democrats have long argued that we need a constitution to define and limit the powers of the European Union.

A written constitution performs two key functions.

It establishes the powers of Brussels and the member states drawing together the provisions of all the Treaties from Rome to Nice.

It will also update the structures of the EU. With enlargement, the already creaking arrangements for the Union will be further stretched. Without reform, sclerosis will surely follow.

Improvements?

Nobody could convince me that this constitution, or the EU itself, is perfect. Let's face it, our own government in Westminster is far from perfect.

But just consider the advances in the reform of the Union that the constitution will make:

Majority voting and full parliamentary scrutiny of the Common Agricultural Policy - a long standing strategic objective of the UK - which should ensure that the obdurate grip on the CAP is finally loosened;

Full transparency, for the first time, in Council of Ministers deliberations;

A formal role for national Parliaments, for the first time and much greater accountability in the way the European Commission is appointed and run.

It surprises me that those who are sceptical about Europe are so opposed to a constitution - for this draft also erases the goal of 'ever-closer union'.

Fact or fiction?

But there is a lot of fiction around too. Just a few examples as set out by one of our tabloid newspapers.

'Under the constitution they said Britain's £3bn a year rebate would be lost.' Untrue.

Regardless of the arguments over the rebate, it is nothing to do with the constitution itself.

'Tony Blair won't need a referendum to force us to scrap the Pound. This constitution does it for him.' Untrue.

Nothing in the constitution can force Britain into the single currency against the will of its people.

'The EU would have the right to demand we contribute troops [to EU military operations].'

'Yes' camp

Nothing in the constitution forces Britain to send its troops anywhere. Only the UK Government can approve that.

Let's not have this debate on the basis of ignorance: that does not serve Britain's interests or the British people - and it is the interests of the British people that concern the Liberal Democrats most.

On balance the benefits of the constitution and membership of the EU, in terms of prosperity, influence and security for Britain far outweigh the transient benefits claimed by those who would have us leave the EU.

So, the Liberal Democrats will be campaigning for a 'yes' vote for this constitution, and will continue to make the case for our continued membership of the EU.