Labour Ask: Why All The Fuss About Europe?

GORDON Brown agreed another plan to give even more control to Brussels last night – before the ink had dried on the controversial Lisbon Treaty.

On the same day Downing Street dismissed the outcry over the signing as a “fuss over nothing”, Mr Brown rubber-stamped the setting up of a so-called Reflection Group to plot the next power- grab by the EU.

It will look at ways to expand EU control over Britain’s economy, immigration, the police and terrorism.

The Prime Minister continues to turn his back on the opinion of millions of Britons. Thousands of Daily Express readers responded to our poll yesterday, with 99 per cent agreeing that Gordon Brown has sold us out to Europe.

And, in a clear indication of a mis-reading of the level of public outrage, a Number 10 spokesman said: “He signed the treaty. It was in public. What’s the issue?”

Yesterday, in another blow to Mr Brown, the Reflection Group – dubbed the “Wise Men” – is set to be led by former Spanish socialist premier Felipe Gonzalez, known for his fervent belief in a European federal superstate.

Mr Brown insisted last night the group was banned from looking at further “institutional change”.

But French president Nicolas Sarkozy – whose brainchild it is – said its job was to discover “the new European dream”. He added: “I want a politically integrated Europe.” The group’s formal task is to look at what shape the EU should take between 2020 and 2030. Tory Shadow Europe Minister Mark Francois accused the Prime Minister of failing the British people.

He said: “He signed the renamed EU Constitution without any democratic mandate. He offended everyone by arriving late. And he has opened a Pandora’s box by agreeing to a Reflection Group with no clear remit, chaired by a Spanish Socialist. Gordon Brown has failed Britain at this summit. If this discredited Prime Minister does not keep his promise to let the British people make the choice in a referendum, trust in his Government will evaporate.”

In another sign of Mr Brown’s growing isolation in Europe, missing from the summit’s final declaration was a demand by Britain that the Wise Men rule out any further big changes for the next 10 years. Neil O’Brien from think-tank Open Europe said: “Gordon Brown knows that the group he has endorsed will lead to yet another round of integration and more new powers for the EU. He must now rule out a further handover of powers.” (Daily Express)