Trust is a five letter word

 

GORDON Brown declares he wants to put trust back into Government decisions and his dealings with the voters. But in almost the same breath, he insists he won't countenance holding a referendum on the new EU reform treaty because he has safeguarded attempts by our European partners to introduce a fundamental shift of powers from the UK to Brussels.

 

My own personal view, having read both the constitution which was scuppered by the French and Dutch two to theree years' ago and the reform treaty - the English translation was only produced on October 5 so I thank the EU's London office for giving me a couple of copies - is that there are significant differences between the two, but as it retains more than 50% of the original document which Mr Brown's predecessor - he who has been airbrushed out of Labour history and must never be named - it should be put before the British people in a referendum.

 

That would be the honest thing to do, a contract of trust.

 

I support a referendum because it will force Brown and his ministers to make the case for Europe. They will have to reach out to voters to engage with the people and to promote the benefits of our not only continuing in membership of the EU but of playing a bigger role in the decision making.

 

If Brown seized the initiative, and concentrated the collective British mind into looking beyond the narrow perspective of the Eurosceptic media, there is everey reason to believe that he could win the day. Say Yes to Europe was the 1975 slogan used by successful pro Common Market supporters when Harold Wilson called a referendum on whether we should stay in the body just two years after joining. It should be resurrected for vote on the constitution.

 

Brown isn't holding a referendum because he thinks he will lose. If that's the case, he shouldn't have included it in the 2005 election manifesto, of which he was the author.

 

Cowardice in the face of the enemy is a court martial offence. He could restore much of his reputadion which he himself helped destroy during the last three weeks by showing leadership over Europe. For 10 years, Tony Blair refused take on the Eurosceptics because the one purpose of his premiership was to be liked. Pandering to the media was part of that strategy and he allowed the Conservatives and their allies in the press to make the initiative.

 

Naturally, David Cameron is behaving like a dog with a bone. He says the treaty gives a significant transfer of power. "They have signed a constitution that transfers, that gets rid of, our right to say no, our veto, in 60 areas. "They've created a permanent EU president, a permanent foreign minister, a diplomatic service. This is a really significant transfer of power from Britain to Brussels.

 

"That is why there ought to be a referendum. Gordon Brown, our Prime Minister, has broken a promise - not just any old promise, but a promise he put in his manifesto, and we're going to hold them to that."

 

Cameron is right for the wrong reason. As Sir Ming Campbell said before his ignominious fall, the UK needs once and for all to have a settled view of the European Union so that we can draw a line under the hysteria.

 

Only by having an adult conversation between Government and the people in a referendum campaign can that aim be achieved.

 

We should rid for ever that most fatuous of political slogans, which was adopted by William Hague: "In Europe, not run by Europe."   In today's world, that is simply not sustainable.