"We signed up for the full federal thing, with 'ever closer union'. "

No, we didn't. That statement is not in the Treaty itself, but in its preamble, which is not legally part of the Treaty. Preambles are never enforceable parts of Treaties, and can even be added after a Treaty is signed.

I really wish I had a Pound for every time I have seen this bit of ignorant misinformation confidently repeated.

jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/US

"We signed up for the full federal thing, with 'ever closer union'."

It is to fundamdentally misunderstand what the EU is and where it is going to assume that the UK is part of an entity that is moving in the direction of a fully fledged federation. Although, the supranational EU institutions have been given certain powers, real power still lies in the national capitals of Europe, particularly London, Paris and Berlin.
Open and frank debate on the UK in the EU is desperately needed, though. A debate which is not dominately by ill-informed Eurospectics, using the scare tactics of the UK losing its identity to turn the public against the European Union. The way that certain elements of the popular press rant on about 'us' losing our identity to 'Europe', one would think that British identity is as flimsy as a house of cards.

David Baker, Belfast, UK

Hang on, why is it Britain this Poland that?

The French and the Dutch both voted against this wretched constitution. Not the Brits and not the Poles. The French and the Dutch. Both members of the Euro currency. Both members of the original six. Both at the core of Europe. Both do not want it, both rejected it.

But still the Euro juggernaut roles on, ever more replicating that other union, the Soviet Union.

So what will the French and the Dutch vote this time?

We will never know, because this time the EU politburo is determined not to ask.

Stu, London,

EU Treaty/Constitution - Constitution via the back door, politicians deceiving the electorates of many european countrys. Ireland apparently ' required by their constitution' to have a referendum on theTreaty or anything else that changes their constitution. Why are Britains politicians so afraid of going to the electorate to prove thats what the Country wants.
Once again politicians proving they are not to be relied on, tell you one thing the do another - oh for one that keeps their promises - the next election, nobody voting except politicians.

G.B.Green, St Germans, Cornwall

Mr Pascal-Pierre is correct. The negotiations last week established the principle of a two-speed Europe, which is what most people in the UK want. An arrangement under which we can take part in free trade with Europe without being bound by their integration ideas is ideal. Now they can pursue integration without using us as an excuse for failure.

I guess some of us would prefer not to be still giving financial aid to Europe fifty years after the end of the War, especially since we can see how much good those five to ten billion a year would do in the Third World, but I guess it's reassuring that the UK has an economy that can give Europe that kind of foreign aid and hardly notice it.

My advice to Europe wold be to stop complaining about the arrangements the UK has secured for itself and concentrate on getting your youth unemployment down to levels that won't blight yet another generation. Oh, and remember that London and its jobs are only a train journey away.

jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/US

The problem is that many people in the UK think we signed up for a free trade area with a few bits added on. That's not the case. We signed up for the full federal thing, with 'ever closer union'. That is where the others are going with varying degrees of enthusiasm. I'm not sure how much longer our politicians can maintain the posture that we can have a set of different rules from the rest of the EU. Perhaps the fact that we are that rare animal, a large net contributor to funds, makes us a tolerated exception, but that will not work as the gap bets wider. We need an open and honest debate in the UK about the EU, with a clear evaluation of its benefits as well as its drawbacks. There are benefits but you would not think so from the negative press the EU constantly gets.

Colin , Shrewsbury, UK

we dont want to be a full member of the EU and throw away 1000 years of history of fighting to stay out of europe by force just so you europeans can use EU as a backdoor entry for domination of GB because you have failed over the last few hundred years using force of arms.Throwing away our civil liberties now would be an insult to our british fore fathers who died for what we hold so dear.

James Johns, Plymouth , Devon

In reply to Pascal-Pierre, at 42 years old I have never had a vote on anything specifically to do with the European Union.

I think that it is the worst thing ever to happen to my (former) country and that Britain would be best off leaving tomnorrow.

I have no doubt that millions of Brits would agree with me.

Andrew Munn, Bangkok, Thailand

We are not concerned about our position in the first, or second, or any particular league. We simply wish to preserve values and liberties for which our forbearers have fought and died. When France fell during the second world war Churchill said, without malice " I'm glad that we are alone ". We are quite happy to be alone again, without il-will towards any other nation, if this is the price we must pay to defend our identity.

Philip Panter, Mirano, Italy.

You are already in the second league, so what else do you want? You lure yourselves in being part of the EU but you are not. With all your opt outs you only have the illusion of being a EU member. So why care about something which is none of your concern? You refuse to take part in the EU foreign policy so it's natural the EU ( whose members have agreed to the foreign policy) be at odds with Britain....from time to time....you wouldn't expect us from following your rules since you refuse what the EU has to offer? would you?

Pascal-Pierre, Dinan / france, European Union

If Gordon Brown wants to break with the past, break with spin - he should take this opportunity. Whatever the pros and cons of an E.U. "treaty" or "Constitution", it is pragmatic and democratic to allow the people of Europe to decide its ultimate fate, full stop. Allowing even the politicians to stop squabbling within their own parties and ranks and actually get on with the business of government and opposition.

As things stand from my point of view, an ordinary "brit" lacking any specialist knowledge of E.U. affairs, nothing the politicians say will justify my clear perception of their combined efforts to avoid a further round of referendums. Call me a cynic, but that speaks volumes to me.

The leaders of europe should preach what they practice.

Muji Bally, London, England