Retouching the picture
Gordon Brown's solo signing of the EU treaty will, after all, be caught on camera in Lisbon tomorrow. The prime minister's spokesman has clarified the matter and says that his boss "looks at me with incredulity" when told that the "will he/won't he" story is generating so much fuss.
Appearances matter in politics and diplomacy. That is why the Eurosceptic Sun newspaper originally reported the suggestion that the PM wouldn't turn up in Lisbon at all with such enthusiasm and why some of Britain's Euro partners were less than impressed.
I'm 
Comments
"The prime minister's spokesman has clarified the matter and says that his boss "looks at me with incredulity" when told that the "will he/won't he" story is generating so much fuss."
Brown's 'cluelessness' is the whole point. He just doesn't get it, does he?
The new EU treaty is a less constitutionally significant document than the Maastricht Treaty, so didn't need the personal appearance of the Prime Minister. I must admit, it's annoying when people demand the Prime Minister focus on the job then get in a hissy fit and demand he turn up for show. You can't have it both ways. I think, it is to the Prime Minister's considerable credit that he is handling this affair with such good grace.
For whatever reason, Brown is desperate to distance himself from the EU Treaty and clearly does not want his face to be associated with it in years to come.
Nevertheless, he has taken us into it and he must accept the consequences.
U TURN ahead!
If Mr Brown didn't realize that his apperent refusal to sign the treaty in public was going to be news, then he has all the political instincts of... well, Mr Bean
Brown is clearly not cut out for diary management let alone running the country. Why he cannot do both or postpone the other engagement until the following day is beyond me?
I would imagine that Alex Salmond and the Scottish Government are less than impressed that Gordon Brown is doing this.
After all, the Scots more-or-less have control of their own country now, so will not take too kindly to 'foreigners' at Westminster poking about in their affairs.
As for the hapless English, even Lewis Carroll could'nt have dremat up the political scenario that we English currently live with.
The English are paying the full price for decades of half-hearted political engagement.
Comparisons with the Maastricht Treaty are disingenuous: unlike the Lisbon Treaty, Maastricht was not self amending.
Who can say what the ultimate consequences of the Lisbon Treaty will be?
Another example of real life... i.e. Gordon Brown, imitating art... i.e. Mr Bean...!
I think John Constable needs to remember that Scotland may have it's own parliament but is still a part of the UK and represented by 59 MP's at Westminster. What Alex Salmond thinks is irrelevant.
Reading the comments posted here and on previous blogs, it's quite clear that Gordon Brown can't win no matter what he does.
As a Labour supporter, I was becoming weary of Brown's government but now realise it's stupid to blame him for the incompetence of other people.
If Gordon Brown had cancelled the select commitee he would have got lamblasted for that - "Brown puts Europe before Britain".
To say that you cannot compare this treaty to that of Maastricht is disingenuous in itself. To make the comparison that Maastricht wasn't self-ammedning is little more than spin.
Maastricht created the EU and so is the cornerstone of the union itself. If anything, there was a much stronger reason to hold a referendum on that than this treaty but the Tories decided not to.
Disgraceful.
New Labour promised the public a referendum on this as part of their election manifesto. Now they are going back on their word and signing away UK Sovereignty without even consulting anyone. If this is not a constitutional matter, what is? The Queen should intervene and publicly insist Brown abide by the result of the public referendum that was promised.
Post #8
I am sure that the Scottish people think that what their First Minister thinks is far more important than some politicians in another country i.e. Westminster, England.
I am just pointing up the absurd political situation that the English people have landed themselves in due to their lack of interest in politics.
Let us tackle it head-on, as Justin (#8) challenges.
There are roughly 60 million people on the island of Britain.
How many of those people really believe in the political concept of a 'United Kingdom'?
There are three groups of people who come to mind :
a) the generation who fought WWII
b) some recent immigrants who are understandly looking for a new identity
c) some of the politicians at Westminster
If we add that lot up, I don't think it does'nt amount to a large percentage of 60 million.
That is why I contend that the so-called 'United Kingdom' is now a political zombie that just plods on.
There is nothing 'narrow-minded' about loving your country but you do need to be certain in your own mind as to what that defines that country.
For me, it is that 'forbidden word' -England.
Post #11:
The current Prime Minister was born in Scotland, was elected by Scottish people to represent a Scottish constituency in Parliament and is, ergo, Scottish. He has more than a mandate to implement policy that will affect Scotland as well.
Unless Scotland becomes independent, The House of Commons is still absolute. It is the state (and that includes Scotland).
John Constable (#s 6, 11) may wish Scotland was not part of the UK but last time I looked it still was, and foreign relations are not matters devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
The sooner Scotland does become an independent country the better; I wish Alex Salmond all the best negotiating Scotland's role in Europe.
For the foreseeable, future, however, whether we like it or not Maccavity Brown is his Prime Minister as well as mine and will be signing this treaty on behalf of citizens from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland alike.
Whether he should be is a different issue...
Once Gordon Brown has signed the EU Constitution - sorry, Treaty - basically he has made himself and the rest of Westminster redundant, because to all intents and purposes we are now governed by Brussells. If they want a good discussion they can all go down the pub.
So, Nick, I suggest you set up a company offering tours around the empty Palace of Westminster - along the lines of: 'This is where British MPs used to meet...'
Nick,
I can't believe that you are giving any credence to the statement from Brown's bagman. It is simple enough, Brown is attempting to get away from the scene of the crime without leaving any lasting images that could come back to haunt him. Any other version simply does not hold water, if only for the fact that he is a serial offender.
As to Brown's good grace, I assume that Charles feels that this view is shared by the police, parents whose personal data has been spread far and wide, victims of crime, staff in DWP, armed forces in Iraq, etc.
In my humble opinion, Gordon has lost all credibility and is simply hanging on for all he is worth, for as long as he can get away with it. I suppose this is only likely if the number of Hardwidges exceeds the number that don't believe a word that Brown now says.
Gordon Brown will go down in the history book as a traitor to this Country and to the people who fought and died for it's freedom.