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European Union (Accessions) Bill

I am very glad to follow the hon. Member for Luton, North (Kelvin Hopkins), partly because we have tracked each other’s thoughts on these subjects for the best part of 10 years or so, but also because this is a critical time at which to consider the accession of new countries. I have repeatedly stated that I am in favour of enlargement, but I have asked as a rider to that argument what kind of Europe we want and what kind of Europe we should have. The problem is exacerbated or illustrated by, for example, what has been going on in France and the Netherlands. The rejection of the referendums in those two countries illustrates the political divorce that has emerged between the people and the elites, whether in individual countries or the EU as a whole. I told my hon. Friend the Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady) that I thought an element of cloud cuckoo land was apparent. I was referring not specifically to what he was saying, but to the inability of Opposition or Government Front-Benchers to grapple with the vacuum that has emerged between the realities of what is going on in Europe and the aspirations that, for example, are contained in the European constitution. We are still waiting for the Government to announce what they will do having secured the Second Reading of the European Union Bill, which dealt with the constitution. [Interruption.] I do not know what the Minister is chuntering about—perhaps he would like to intervene.