So now a Eurocrat has come clean. The EU is not a trading association, it is the Roman Empire reincarnated. Since we English and Scots were never a part of the original Roman Empire (our ancestors were not in Britain at the time) I see no reason why we should want to be a part of it now. Let's all vote for UKIP at the next election and have done with Emperor Barroso. We never needed Rome's help to build our own British Empire and we don't need Brussels bureaucrats now.

Adrian Gilbert, Tonbridge,

What can I say? This statement confirms many of the deep seated fears I have about the European Union. Let me make this clear - I am a British subject and not a citizen of the EU! The latest 'constitution' - because that's what it is however they might disguise it as a 'treaty' - is one step away from a Federal European superstate! We should have a referendum on this now so we can decide - democratically - how we, as British subjects, wish to be governed, and by whom!

Robert P, Hamilton,

There used to be days when people would proudly start to sing hymns as it was mentioned the sun never set within this great empire. Isn't the commonwealth a remnance of this? What a great opportunity to make this world a better place through working together. Some sacrifices must be made, true. But rest assured, driving on the right side of the road or disliking haggis isn't by far important enough to put down in law. Equality, human rights and freedom of thougt should be. It would be wise to focus on these common goals instead of worshipping the ideal of splendid isolation (which didn't help the free world in the past either)

Martin van de Wardt-Olde Riekerink, Groningen, Europe

It's not enough to obey big brother, you must love him as well.

Frank Hayes, Palos Verdes, CA, USA

When are we going to have the long over due referendum on whether or not we want to actually stay as deep as we are in the EU? I for one would like to have a vote on whether we leave, revert back to solely free trade, stay as we are or accept this new "amendment". There should be a vote on staying in the EU or stepping out or staying as we are and no more every 5 years. It is daft that we had one vote on the thing and have since not had our say when it is now a new generation coming through who need to have their say on the subject. People change government every 4 / 5 years, we need to have the choice of being in the EU every 4 / 5 years too. WHERE HAS DEMOCRACY GONE?

Graeme, Edinburgh,

This is just another move towards a one world government. The US is trying to form it's own North American Union . I imagine once that happens they will converge with the EU and other desperate nations who are willing to slave trade for aid and subsidies. The middle-class will be wiped off the map as a result.

Mary, Scarborough, Maine, USA

We were promised a referendum on a EU Constitution. This new 'treaty' is the Constitution in all but name. We should have a referendum. Let the British people decide whether they want to be part of The United States of Europe or the European Empire

Lynda Plum, London, england

It's about time that the people of the UK woke up to the fact that this so called "Economic Community" was always a disguise to hide the real ambitions of Europe's so called politicians. They cannot solve the problems in their respective countries so lets have a mega goverment responsible to no one.

Take a look at the countries who are really enthusiastic about this union.

Germany....Who never forgave anyone for losing the war and thereby control of the European continent.

France....Who never forgave or got over the fact that their great Emporer lost a battle to Britain. A country who in any way it can wants world power......again, but they forgot to tell their people that it comes through hard work and not whining.

Spain.....A country who appeased Hitler and who until 35 years ago had never even experienced democracy. They actually "waited" until their dictator died.

Portugal...Well! Portugal ????

Greece:...No economy so to speak of, and a joke to everyone.

Jill owens, New York, USA

All empires fall. Usually pretty quickly. And generally because those at the top are as divorced from reality as the Commissioners have become.

The Commission cannot, and probably never will, understand the difference between being proud to be European and being ashamed to be members of the EU with its history of being wedded to social evils such as subsidy and protectionism.

Let's all agree that where empires are bad, republics are good. Let's have some democracy in this empire, and stop acting as if we're scared of democracy, as the recent shameful spectacle over the constitution suggests.

300 million people, 300 million votes. Direct elections of all commissioners. Recall votes allowed at any time. Come on Mr Barroso - give us something a decent human being can actually feel proud of!

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

Outrageous. I voted for entry to the common market because I thought it was about free trade. I was conned.

There should be a referendum without delay.

Ray, Dartmouth,

José Manuel Barroso may have said something more important than he thinks. Why not have a powerless European Emperor, who would have only representative functions? Such a person would help creating an European identity without interfering in the political sphere. And it would be a lot more acceptable for European monarchs - including the British Queen - to have an Emperor above them than a President.

And who could become Emperor of Europe? My candidate is HIRH Otto von Habsburg, in whose veins runs blood from most countries in Europe.

Nuno, Lisbon, Portugal

Not a story we heard on the BBC today, strangely enough.....and that is one major reason why there is not more outrage at what is silently going on. No question,eg, from John Humphrys to Brown this morning about his claim to be 'listening to the people', when he is shamelessly doing the very opposite with democracy itself.

Blackstone, Abingdon, UK

In May at the Scottish Parliament and Council Elections the neo-con UKIP, which had a candidate standing in every seat, received a grand total of 2,164 votes, and lost every deposit!
In an indigenous Tory marginal, won by the SNP with a comfortable majority, it received ONE vote! In contrast, the SNP garnered almost 1 million votes! It is now the minority Scottish Government and controls overall, or in coalition, over TWO THIRDS of Scottish Councils! The Scots are not interested in Middle England's phobia with the alleged threat of a European Empire! Our paths will soon be diverging.

Mr Lachie Todd, Edinburgh, Scotland

@ Terry
After 10 years of the systematic destruction of Magna Carta and subsequent law in the name of "modernisation", aided and abetted by the editorial line of the Murdoch papers (Sun, Times), the people have finally realised that we are powerless to do anything about it. The armed forces have been reduced to a shadow of their former selves, and are all deployed outside the country to keep them out of the way of any uprising. the police have ceased being "civilians in uniform" and largely behave like an occupying army.

In today's England we know that we are to be divided up into 9 euro-regions taken into this euro-empire, and that not one of the political parties has the guts to oppose it. We are not very good at insurrection, but we need to learn.

Perhaps the Yanks can teach us how to throw off our colonial masters? They have plenty of experience, not only after the Boston Tea Party, but also from fomenting all the independence movements throughout the former British Empire.

Fred, London, What's left of England

If EU member states have come together "voluntarilly and democratically" then why are we not allowed a referendum on the resurrected Constitution?

The government (and the other 2 main parties) promised a referendum in their 2005 election manifesto. Is Gordon Brown really going to use the Whip to force his own MPs to ratify this treaty by Parliament in direct conflict with the manifesto commitment they were elected on? Is that what "democracy" in Europe has been reduced to?

John, london,

United Kingdom I wish to be part of your Homeland. I will defend your shores and give you my Loyalties forevermore. What does the general population say about this European Union?
Let the people speak and Be Heard!! :>D

Disgusted American, Ottumwa, Iowa usa

For God's sake lets get out of the EU and re-establish ourselves as a democratic country.

Malcolm, London, England

I think Mr. Barroso had better watch his back as Sarkozy has his own imperial ambitions and would himself want to be Emperor!!

Daisy, toronto, canada

Let's face it the man should be carted off to the funny farm, he already trolls round the world as if he represents the peoples of the eu, when in fact he is the unelected president of the democratically deficient commission, no doubt the next decree from this body which has indulged itself in power grabs for years is that they can never ever be replaced unless they die or retire by their own choice, Barrosso certainly views himself as emporer. It is time we left this corrupt expensive club, and returned all prerogative powers that we have lost to brussells back to westminster, the savings fromthe european tax would help everyone in this country.

Barry Davies, Stafford, Staffs. UK

Why is this a shock ? Anyone who has been paying attention will know that he is simply stating the truth. The real scandal is not that he has said it, but that it is generally being imposed in us by sheath. The whole process should have been exposed by the media way back – we are only now being told what is happening.

for info, bristol,

There is no fire storm because its a non starter of an idea. They cant agree about the size of bananas let alone serious polices. The EU is just a bureaucracy that creates jobs for failed politicians. As it grows bigger it becomes weaker.

Tony, Leeds, England

In May at the Scottish Parliament and Council Elections the neo-con UKIP, which had a candidate standing in every seat, received a grand total of 2,164 votes! In an indigenous Tory marginal, won by the SNP with a comfortable majority, it received ONE vote! In contrast, the SNP received almost 1 million votes! It is now the minority Scottish Government and controls overall, or in coalition, over TWO THIRDS of Scottish Councils! The Scots are not interested in Middle England's phobia with the alleged threat of a European Empire! Our paths will soon be diverging.

Mr Lachie Todd, Edinburgh, Scotland

Would somebody be kind enough to explain what a metaphor is?

JC Duc, WGC, UK

I cannot believe there isn't a firestorm in Britain over these comments. Since when did Britons become sheep?

Terry

Terry Zuckerman, North Bergen, New Jersey

"Empires were usually made with force with a centre imposing diktat."

Those words seem to fit a description of the EU very well. The British people voted to join a common market. That is the only time we were given a choice. What we have now - the EU - is the result of successive mutations from the original design.

And ignoring the results of free, democraic referenda amounts to imposition by force.

Edwin Thornber, Bucharest, Romania