Devious Ton y Blair: European Union Is Fighting About More Than Money by Mark Gilbert
It's not clear why Blair capitulated on the plebiscite. The fact that it was first reported in the Sun newspaper has aroused speculation Blair did a deal with its proprietor, Rupert Murdoch. Maybe Murdoch, no fan of the EU, pledged the backing of his publications for Blair in the national elections earlier this year in return for a ballot in which the British public was likely to vote against the constitution.
The referendum promise certainly allowed Blair to ignore the issue of the U.K.'s role in Europe during the election, even as it left France feeling betrayed. Thus Chirac, rightly or wrongly, lays the blame for the current European crisis on both its budget and its constitution at the door of 10 Downing Street. When Brown talks about ``changes Europe must make to meet the competitive challenges of globalization,'' the French detect the odious odor of Americanism in his words. And while the British press bangs on about how Europe needs a dose of Thatcherism to lick its economy into shape, the French don't view socialism as a dirty word. Measures such as the 35-hour work week are seen as a triumph of worker protection, not an impediment to growth.
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