Nirj Deva, Member of the European Parliament for South East England has today (Monday) welcomes the breakdown in talks on the European Constitution at the Intergovernmental Conference meeting in Brussels.

Commenting on the talks, the Eurosceptic MEP said:

”It is entirely thanks to the pressure applied during the talks by the Polish Government, still mindful of the impact of the policies of centralization on their country during the years of Communist rule that we have avoided this badly thought-through, badly structured and highly-damaging Constitution being imposed on our nation.

“Instead of protecting the interests of my constituents in the South East of England, Tony Blair seems hell-bent on rubber-stamping a Constitution which surrenders control of British sovereignty on a whole host of issues – from taxation to transport”

The Shadow Foreign Secretary, The Rt. Hon. Michael Ancram QC MP said:

"Despite the abject readiness of Tony Blair to sign up to this damaging constitution, it is a matter of relief that for the moment it is not going to be rammed down the throats of the British people.

“We should be grateful towards the Poles and the Spaniards for standing up for their national interests in a way that our Government was not prepared to do.

“The European Federalists will undoubtedly, however, have another go. We will continue to highlight the dangers and to insist on a referendum if this constitution is agreed."