letter to the editor from Richard Corbett MEP

30 May 2007

The Guardian

Dear Editor,

No wonder John McDonnell failed to secure enough nominations to stand for Labour party leader if his understanding of EU issues is so blinkered (letter, May 30th)!

Far from the Constitutional Treaty being a "neocon agenda", it was supported by every single one of the Socialist parties in the European Union while it is generally opposed by neo-cons and the far-right.

France and the Netherlands indeed voted against the treaty, but 18 member states have ratified it and it is not unreasonable to seek a compromise on a new treaty which drops some of the more controversial elements of the Constitutional Treaty but preserves those that seek to make the EU more effective and to improve its democratic accountability.

Yours,


Richard Corbett

Labour MEP for Yorkshire & Humber
Blenheim Terrace, Leeds