Politician

Having viewed Europe as an extension and projection of itself, France now finds Europe developing a mind and identity of its own which embraces France but is not controlled by France.

I understand why the Tories will be gunning for Alastair Campbell because they fear his campaigning skills.

Instead of saying that globalization is a fact, that it's inevitable, we've also got to demonstrate that while the growing interdependence of the world economy is indeed a fact, it's not uncontrollable.

Of course, the EU is not going to fall apart, but at best it will stagnate for the foreseeable future and we will be dealing with quite a lot of internal chaos.

The last thing we need is to turn in on ourselves rather than face us up to what we have to do in the world.

Essentially we need a new social consensus for economic reform as New Labour has achieved in Britain.

The markets don't like instability and they don't like uncertainty.

I certainly believe that we gain through open trade and liberalisation.

What is most important for Europe is economic growth and jobs, security at home and safety in the world.

Too often we think we can act without explaining and take decisions without justifying them.

They want to derail peace because they want to plunge Northern Ireland back into armed conflict.

If the constitutional treaty is rejected it will be back to square one, just at a time when we want Europe to be a more effective force for good in the world, when we need to buttress ourselves against the pressures and insecurities of globalization.

It's a very good idea that we have a third term Labour government led by Tony Blair for a full term.

In my experience of these things, parties which shout about dirty tricks and the like tend to do so because they fear a direct hit in some vulnerable part of their political anatomy.

I'm optimistic that we are actually seeing the opportunity of a generation being created in this.

I think Europe is going in the right direction and we shouldn't be set back.

In the space of a decade, China and India have emerged as dramatic, dynamic competitors.

Firstly, people take for granted that the E.U. has created the biggest economic space in the world.

We've got to demonstrate why European unity and integration, our vast single market, our single currency, equip us with the strength to embrace globalization.

I'm a fighter, not a quitter.