Back-benchers Table Anti-E.E.C. Amendment

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31365, 10 May 1967, Page 19

Back-benchers Table Anti-E.E.C. Amendment

(NJ.P^^Beutee—-Copyright)

LONDON, May 9. A defiant faction of Government back-benchers openly revolted today against Britain seeking membership of the Common Market. The rebellion, by about 30 Left-wing M.P.s, emerged as an historic three-day debate on the issue entered its second day in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister, Mr Harold Wilson, yesterday asked the House to endorse his “into Europe” policy—which has the support of the opposition Conservative and Liberal parties. The anti-Marketeers in the Labour Party struck back last night by deciding to table their own amendment to the Government motion, now under debate, approving the Cabinet decision to seek membership of the six-State market. The rebels in their amendment refuse to approve the decision on the ground that the Government had failed to give effect to “the ner ssary safeguards” for Britain, the Commonwealth and partners

in the European Free Trade Association.

The Speaker of the Commons has not yet said whether he will call the amendment in the debate, which is due to end tomorrow night But some of the signatories have declared they will carry their protest to the extreme length of voting against the Government This would be a flagrant breach of party discipline rigidly enforced for this debate. Other dissident back-bench-ers in the Labour Party may abstain, but the Government is still certain of a huge majority. Observers say at least 500 of the 630 members of the Commons will support the Government motion. Mr Wilson won praise in newspapers today for his Parliamentary statement and

handling of questioning on television three hours later—an interview seen by an audience of millions in Britain, Europe and North America.

In his speech, Mr Wilson said: Of the Commonwealth: “We shall remain in the closest consultation with our Commonwealth partners ... it would be wrong to speculate on the kind of arrangements that should be reached. . . . Whatever method is chosen, this problem is one where we have a bounden duty to seek the necessary safeguards. . .” Of Sterling: “This is not a problem of the strength of sterling . . . Britain did not intend to invoke Article 108 to deal with problems arising from factors outside its own national balance of payments.”

Of British Industry: “British entry would have a profound effect upon British industry by creating new confidence, a new upsurge in investment and a new concentration on modernisation, productivity and reduced production costs.” Of Commonwealth Immigrants: A Commonwealth immigrant who became a British citizen would be able to take up employment in any Community country, but not Otherwise. There would be no further restriction of Commonwealth immigration. Of The Law: “Constitutional right and liberties of the individual such as habeas corpus and the presumption of innocence will not be affected, nor in any material sense will be our criminal law.” Of Defence and Politics: “This does not involve any fundamental change ... in European defence arrangements, conventional or nu-

clear ... I still believe that for the immediately foreseeable future British public opinion would not contemplate any rapid move to a federal Europe.” Mr Wilson said should the Commons approve of the motion to seek entry, the Government would present a formal application to the Common Market governing body within hours.

(References to N.Z., p 12.)