http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003420589,00.html
:banghead: 
Blair buries Britain
By GEORGE PASCOE-WATSON
Deputy Political Editor
BRITAIN was read the last rites yesterday — by its own Prime Minister.
Tony Blair vowed to surrender huge swathes of our centuries-old sovereignty to the European Union.
He also ignored overwhelming public opinion by insisting Britons will NOT be allowed a vote on whether the nation should sign up to the new EU constitution.
Mr Blair’s capitulation was revealed in a White Paper presented to the Commons by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. Tory chief Iain Duncan Smith called it a “white flagâ€.
The controversial treaty will strip the nation of the right to run its own affairs on at least 26 key issues — including asylum, immigration and even areas of law and order.
Instead, the decisions will be taken in Brussels by a simple majority of EU states.
And unelected EU judges and officials will be able to dictate British legislation. It was with breathtaking hypocrisy that Mr Blair refused a referendum — despite conceding that the treaty was MORE important than the Iraq crisis.
The PM put his job on the line to fight the war that toppled tyrant Saddam Hussein. Yet he shrugged off demands to let British people decide who rules Britain.
Details of his amazing admission on the treaty — during a private Cabinet session 18 months ago — were revealed yesterday by Commons leader Peter Hain.
He said: “Tony quite startled people by saying the outcome is absolutely fundamental.
“It will define the relationship between Britain and the rest of Europe, the prospects for the euro and it would last for generations.
“He said it was more important than Iraq, which rather startled people, in the sense that the European issue would be with us for generations.â€
Ten other EU leaders have already promised to stage referendums on the constitution.
And a Sun poll showed yesterday that nearly eight out of ten voters were demanding one here.
Their verdict came only hours before yesterday’s publication of the White Paper on the treaty.
It was unveiled by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw amid stormy Commons scenes.
A string of MPs — including Labour backbenchers — made repeated calls for the electorate to be given the chance to decide.
Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: “This White Paper is a white flag, a complete surrender to a European superstate.
“The British people know that. They want their referendum. The Prime Minister says they can’t have one. I say they should.â€
Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram declared: “This is the Government’s docile surrender to the concept of a politically united Europe — a betrayal of trust.â€
Labour MP Kate Hoey said: “I really can’t believe that, deep down, he believes that the changes that this new constitution is going to bring are not worthy of a referendum.â€
Fellow Labour member George Stevenson said: “Why is the Government so insistent that the people of this country should not be consulted on the way they are governed?â€
Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesman Menzies Campbell added: “Why has the Government set itself so implacably against the idea of a referendum on a treaty which, in my judgment, does raise constitutional implications?â€
And former Tory leader William Hague said: “Wouldn’t other countries have taken more seriously some of the positions you have now had to abandon if the Government took more seriously the views of the people and were prepared to hold a referendum?â€
But Mr Straw shrugged off all opposition, saying: “The proposals in the current draft treaty do not change the fundamental relationship between the EU and its member states.
“On any analysis it involves less change than that in Maastricht and the Single European Act.â€
EU leaders will begin horse trading on the treaty at an inter-governmental conference next month.
Mr Blair has insisted he will fight to block EU demands to control certain matters, such as taxation, defence and foreign affairs policy.
But Mr Straw said: “The Government has concluded that the right place to decide on any outcome of the IGC is here in this House and in this Parliament.â€
Experts fear that up to two million jobs may be lost as Britain is forced to follow a German-style “social market†economy set out in the blueprint.
This would saddle UK firms with massive jobs costs and risks driving foreign investors away.
The Institute of Directors backed calls for a referendum on the treaty — expected to be signed next June — in a bid to avert such a calamity.
Policy director Ruth Lea said: “We are very concerned that the Government is prepared to let many changes proposed in the draft constitution go through unchallenged.
“It is only right and fair that the British people should be given the opportunity to say whether or not they want this to happen. There should be a referendum.â€
Peers also tore into the Government. Tory Lord Howell said: “A free constitution of civil Government is society’s greatest treasure.â€
How EU will strip powers
By GEORGE PASCOE-WATSON
THIS is how the new EU constitution will rein in our Parliament:
It states starkly that Brussels will automatically assume the power to set British laws.
Parliament will only be able to rule when the EU decides it does not want to get involved.
We will no longer be able to opt out of or block new rulings from Europe on asylum, immigration, employment legislation and some areas of law and order.
Trade policy will be set by Brussels. The European Central Bank will be able to regulate British banks.
An EU President and Euro foreign minister will be appointed.
The European Commission — currently headed by Italian Romano Prodi, who is battling bribery allegations over a telecom deal — will get its own diplomatic service.
It will have sweeping powers to represent Britain’s interests abroad.
European Court of Justice judges will be handed supreme control of Britain’s courts as the Charter of Fundamental Rights becomes enshrined in UK law.
The White Paper states: “The changes we helped push through have put the whole package in much better legal shape.â€
The European Court will be given the power to dictate workplace rights.
Bosses fear this will hand widespread new shopfloor rights to unions, which could cripple British industry.
Other areas of surrender include energy policy, which could lead to the EU getting its hands on North Sea oil in a crisis.
And the police will be ordered to co-ordinate their work with EU colleagues.
Tony Blair also vowed to sign up to an “escalator clause,†meaning Britain will give up MORE power in the coming years.
And he refused to block measures forcing Britain to buy EU defence equipment.
Critics believe this could undermine Britain’s special relationship with the US and harm Nato.
The new constitution has been drawn up to streamline the way the EU runs to prepae for ten eastern bloc countries joining next year.
Mr Blair and his ministers have repeatedly shrugged it off as a “tidying-up exerciseâ€.
:banghead: 
