Euro-bashing unites Britain's political foes

Standing up for British interests in Europe

Prime Minister John Major's Conservative Party and the Labour Party, headed by Tony Blair, seized the opportunity to try to outbid each other over who would best stand up for British interests in Europe. Their moves were an acknowledgement that both believe EU integration is an important influence on voters.

Blair attacks Major's EU policies	Major takes issue with Blair's anti-EU stance
(264K/22 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)	(314K/26 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

Major seized on Santer's remarks, telling a news conference he had warned that Britain would face strong pressures to agree to integrationist moves at the EU summit in Amsterdam in June.

"It is only a Conservative government that can be trusted to say 'no' to a federal Europe."

-- British Prime Minister John Major

Blair hit back, reiterating his belief that Major was incapable of representing Britain at the EU negotiating table.

"Who will best stand up and fight for British interests -- John Major, the man who appointed Jacques Santer ... and who can't even keep his own party together in the course of an election campaign?" asked Blair.

"Or me, the person who transformed the Labour Party into the strongest, most professional, most disciplined fighting force

Revived campaign issue

Until recently, European unification was generally shunned as a campaign topic too complicated for voters to follow -- and one that could lose votes.

Then, Euro-skeptic members of Major's Conservative Party, divided among themselves over integration with Europe, started announcing their own policies.

More than 200 candidates and even some government ministers have said they would vote against British participation. "Don't bind my hands when I am negotiating," responded Major, who has adopted a "wait and see" policy in advance of the June summit.

Even the minority Liberal Democrats, who expect to win around a dozen seats on May 1 and who want closer European links, were upset by Santer's comments. Party leader Paddy Ashdown said: "I'm not in favor of a European superstate."

What set off Santer?

There was speculation that the European Commission president's patience had snapped after two developments.

The first was last week's Conservative Party newspaper ad picturing Tony Blair as German Chancellor Helmut Kohl's puppet.

Sources said Santer's Amsterdam speech originally included a scathing reference to the ad, but that it was removed at the last minute.

There were also suggestions he was angered by Labour's decision to inject a new caution into its language over European integration to ensure that it is not outflanked by Conservative Euro-scepticism.

British polls now suggest that pro-Europe sentiment has lost favor.

Believing their are votes in British fears, political parties have found ways to simplify and sloganize the Europe issue until no respectable person can be pro-Europe.