Airstrip One

The Tories have signed up to this - 15th November 2002

The European People's Party have produced their response to the skeleton constitution and puts flesh on their statist dreams. Here's a list of their 'democratic demands':

"a specific reference to Europe's "religious heritage" in the constitution's preamble, the introduction of an EU tax, and a new form of European partnership for the EU's neighbours which the EU believes might be extended to Turkey instead of membership."

They also differ from the socialists in their rejection of a European 'president' and Congress of the European Peoples.

Since the Christian Democrats have been federalists from the Treaty of Rome, can the Conservative Party continue to belong to a group that is unwilling to allow a secession clause in the constitution. After all, it is inconceivable that anyone would want to leave.

On the other hand, Timothy Kirkhope, Tory rep on the Convention (sotto voce) has called for referenda in all countries to ratify the Constitution. That sunk without trace.