'Betrayal' by Beckett as Britain
Backtracks on EU Transparency
by David Rennie in Brussels

The Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, is braced for an embarrassing row today as she tries to block moves for greater openness in EU decision-making.

Some EU ambassadors and members of the European Parliament have expressed shock at Mrs Beckett's drive to keep television cameras out of the ministerial debates that decide large swathes of EU law, with one senior MEP accusing Britain of "betrayal".

When Britain held the rotating presidency of the EU in the second half of last year, Tony Blair endorsed calls for greater transparency in meetings of the Council of Ministers, most of whose debates are currently held behind closed doors.

Similar calls for transparency were enshrined in the now stalled EU constitution. The idea was revived last autumn by pro-European Liberal Democratic MEPs whose aim was to improve the image of the EU among ordinary voters.

The UK presidency pushed other nations to agree to explore how to achieve greater openness - a call taken up by Austria, which took over the presidency from Britain. However, Mrs Beckett believes that the written proposals now being touted by the Austrians go too far, and will lead to politically sensitive negotiations being carried out in corridors or telephone calls between ministers, while the ministerial meetings themselves will be used only to rubber-stamp done deals.

British officials denied charges that the UK's position amounted to a U-turn, and noted that Mrs Beckett was consulted on the transparency initiative during the UK presidency and expressed grave doubts. "Her position hasn't changed," said one official.

Mrs Beckett will lead the charge against the Austrian plans. However, it may prove a lonely day for the new Foreign Secretary. "It's very difficult for any minister to say, 'I want more meetings in secret'," said an EU diplomat.
The Daily Telegraph, 11th June 2006

PHILLIP DAY'S COMMENT: Beckett is at the heart of Blair's political correctness machinery and introducing extremist, minority legislation Britain and Europe doesn't need and most people don't want is her standard stock in trade. Which is why she wants to do it in secret, where there's less change of her being dragged out into the street and dangled alongside the Union Jack.

Folks, in case you haven't worked it out, Margaret Beckett loathes everything Britain used to stand for and, like the rest of her apparatchiks, wants to change everything. And until the British get off their fat backsides and start doing something about the treason and constant kow-towing to Europe in their midst, expect far more of the same.

Further Resources
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The Real Face of the European Union by Phillip Day, video documentary (PAL format only)
Ten Minutes to Midnight by Phillip Day

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