EU constitution defeated

What we think

EU constitution defeated

Now step up the struggle for workers’ rights

THE FRENCH ‘no’ to the EU constitution is a massive blow to the
pro-big business politicians in France and Europe. In Britain it means
that a referendum is effectively dead.

Blair’s dream scenario involved a ‘yes’ campaign in 2006 where, with
Brown’s support, he would use his powers of persuasion to convince the
British public to vote in favour of the EU constitution. Then he would
be able to stand down as Prime Minister, leaving his legacy of Britain
at the "heart of Europe".

It was only ever really a dream. Much more likely was a humiliating
defeat, as it turned into a referendum on Blair himself, with a battered
Blair forced to bow out with his tail between his legs.

In one respect Blair has been let off the hook. But he is also left
to pick up the pieces of the constitution wreckage when Britain takes
over the presidency of the EU in July.

Some Labour MPs are calling for his early resignation now that a
referendum is unlikely to go ahead. However, Blair will want to see
through the six-month EU presidency, determined to try and force through
the bosses’ neo-liberal agenda.

This would include keeping Britain’s opt-out of the working hours
directive, which means that British workers can work more than the EU
limit of 48 hours, and pushing ahead with the so-called ‘Frankenstein’
services directive which would drastically undermine workers’ rights and
conditions.

But that’s precisely what millions of French workers were voting
against in the referendum and what German workers rejected in the recent
election in the region of North Rhine Westphalia. They don’t want the
‘Anglo-Saxon model’ of longer working hours, privatisation of public
services, slashing of the welfare state and decimated workers’ rights.

There have been huge struggles in France, Germany and many other
European countries against these attacks.

British workers need to join with these and others in the rest of
Europe to fight against the bosses’ EU of profits and exploitation and
for a united workers’ Europe of solidarity and socialism.