The European Parliament debate on the new constitution, in Strasbourg, is a watershed in the long-running battle between Reformers and Wreckers within the countries that form the European Union.
British Labour MEPs line up with the majority of MEPs from all 25 countries of the Union to back the constitution as an important reform that will make the EU more effective in delivering real benefits to the citizens of Europe.
British Tories and UKIP members oppose the Constitution. The leader of British MEPs Gary Titley said: " This debate has been a battle between reformers and wreckers. The Tory and UKIP groups are determined to demonstrate their hostility to Europe at every turn. They have a vested interest in gridlock in Europe. That's why they oppose reform. If they get their way Britain will be isolated in Europe. Their approach is bad for Europe and bad for Britain."
The debate in the European Parliament has been on a report co-authored by the British Labour MEP Richard Corbett. He said:"The creation and development of the Union has been a historic achievement, bringing more than half a century of peace and prosperity to a continent that was blighted by centuries of often bloody conflict.
"We are all aware that this historic development had a downside. The piecemeal nature of the growth left us with a messy tangle of treaties. This had to be tackled, not only to make the Union more efficient and effective - but also to make it more democratic and citizen-friendly.
"To the Wreckers the bureaucratic deficiencies were a godsend. They allowed them to portray the Union as the enemy of the people of Europe despite the mountains of evidence that membership of the Union has brought great progress for ordinary people.
"With the new Constitution we are taking that weapon away from them - that is why they are kicking and screaming and running more of the scare stories in which they specialise.
Mr Corbett said the Constitution will undoubtedly make the Union and its institutions more effective. It is a single, readable document. It's a simple set of rules spelling out the objectives of the European Union, its powers and their limits, how policy is developed and implemented and how the Union relates to the Government of their own country.
Mr Corbett said: "People in Britain and across the continent will be able to see that they are immeasurably better off within the Union rather than outside it. They will see that the isolation favoured by the Tories and UKIP would be disastrous for the UK."
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