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Mandelson on attack over Europe Mandelson hails Blair on Europe
(about 2 hours later)
Labour has failed to make the case for Europe and should make it a key battleground at the next election, says EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson. Peter Mandelson has praised Tony Blair's contribution to the European Union saying he had helped it "connect" with the public.
Mr Mandelson, an ally of Tony Blair, says that the United Kingdom should be at the heart of the EU. It comes after the EU trade commissioner criticised Labour for failing to make the case for Europe.
He told the BBC he was not criticising Mr Blair, but said the government as a whole had failed to turn around "anti-Europeanism" in British politics. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government had not done enough to tackle "anti-Europeanism".
It would be "disastrous" for Britain to be sidelined from Europe, he said. When pressed, he insisted he was not referring to Mr Blair, or his likely successor Gordon Brown.
The former Northern Ireland secretary said globalisation was "shifting the debate" in favour of pro-Europeans. He told Today he believed "the government as a whole" was at fault.
He expanded on this theme later at a conference on progressive government, where the prime minister was the keynote speaker.
Mr Mandelson said the government should "boast" more about its achievements in Europe.
"I only wish that the UK and the UK Government would boast a little bit more about what it's doing for and in Europe.
"They have had a huge success in their presidency, why not say so and share it with the rest of the British public and try to counter some of the vitriolic anti-Europeanism we have coming from so many quarters."
But he said the criticisms did not apply to Mr Blair.
He told the prime minister: "You really have helped Europe become more relevant, more efficient and you have helped the European Union connect up much more with the European public than it has been in the past."
In his Guardian article, Mr Mandelson said it would be "disastrous" for Britain to be sidelined from Europe, arguing that globalisation was "shifting the debate" in favour of pro-Europeans.
'Effective and accountable''Effective and accountable'
And Britain was converging with the continent. UK public spending was approaching EU levels while Europe was becoming more British in its attitude to market reforms.And Britain was converging with the continent. UK public spending was approaching EU levels while Europe was becoming more British in its attitude to market reforms.
Writing in the Guardian, he said: "Without an effective and accountable EU, with Britain at its heart, the [Labour] party's capacity to fulfil its progressive ambitions will be severely diminished." He wrote: "Without an effective and accountable EU, with Britain at its heart, the [Labour] party's capacity to fulfil its progressive ambitions will be severely diminished."
But he said Labour had failed to make the case for Europe.But he said Labour had failed to make the case for Europe.
I think the government as a whole has failed to counter and turn round the anti-Europeanism which I think is still rife in parts of Britain's political culture Peter MandelsonI think the government as a whole has failed to counter and turn round the anti-Europeanism which I think is still rife in parts of Britain's political culture Peter Mandelson
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he denied his comments had been directed at Mr Blair or his likely successor, Chancellor Gordon Brown.Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he denied his comments had been directed at Mr Blair or his likely successor, Chancellor Gordon Brown.
"I make an exception for the prime minister. I think the government as a whole is the problem," he said.
"There is a paradox. Britain now has more influence inside the EU than it has ever had... but at the same time, I think the government as a whole has failed to counter and turn round the anti-Europeanism which I think is still rife in parts of Britain's political culture."
"The reason for that is that the government has made insufficient effort."
Constitution revival
He said the next prime minister would have to realise that there was no advantage for Britain in "standing aloof" from Europe.He said the next prime minister would have to realise that there was no advantage for Britain in "standing aloof" from Europe.
Meanwhile, Commons leader Jack Straw told MPs he had not understood clearly what point Mr Mandelson was trying to make in an article on the subject in Thursday's Guardian.
On Wednesday German Chancellor Angela Merkel's indicated that she intended to use her EU presidency to revive the constitution - which has effectively been on hold since it was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.On Wednesday German Chancellor Angela Merkel's indicated that she intended to use her EU presidency to revive the constitution - which has effectively been on hold since it was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has said she believes there is little chance of the EU Constitution being revived in its present form, and Home Secretary John Reid has described it as a "dead parrot".Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has said she believes there is little chance of the EU Constitution being revived in its present form, and Home Secretary John Reid has described it as a "dead parrot".
But Mrs Merkel said she wanted to present a revised version to EU heads at a summit in June.But Mrs Merkel said she wanted to present a revised version to EU heads at a summit in June.
Mr Mandelson said she was right to want to sort out the mess, but that did not necessarily mean the treaty should be revived as a grand project.Mr Mandelson said she was right to want to sort out the mess, but that did not necessarily mean the treaty should be revived as a grand project.