Ann Widdecombe Quotes

Anything that keeps the U.K. close to the E.U. and best of all, in the E.U., would make me personally very happy.

'Ever closer union' is one of the totemically controversial phrases in the European Union's Treaties. It seems to give weight to the view that the scheme is designed to end in a single state and that those who agreed the texts have long know this, even if they have been unwilling to admit it to the British people.

'Federalism', in the context of political and media usage in Britain, has come to mean the creation and imposition of a European superstate, one centralised in Brussels.

We have direct elections for the European Parliament. We have the [European] Commission that is independent from the member states. Of course we all belong to a country, but we are independent from our governments.

The European Union ranks among the most extraordinary political achievement of modern times. It has abolished tariffs, established a common currency, and spread peace and prosperity to democracies across Europe.

I was turned out because I said to Europe no, no, no. That no, no , no has now turned into yes, yes. Two yes's not three because he got the Social Chapter out and he's reserved his position on the single currency.

The E.U. is founded on the Treaties which apply only to the Member States who have agreed and ratified them.

I would like a UK fully engaged in Europe, but I can't decide in place of the British. I see that for the moment they want to be more in retreat.

Perhaps our own opposition to even the level of European integration we have now, let alone any more, is well known.

The EU is not a country and it's not going to become a country, in my view, now or ever in the future. It is a group of countries working together.

I would wish for more British involvement in Europe, not less.

I do not share the half-in, half-out attitude to the EU of some in Britain. Britain's place is in Europe.

It's been President Clinton's dream that we'll have finally a fully integrated Europe.

We believe that the European Union is facing a truly historic choice.

I know this isn't a widespread view in the Anglo Saxon world, but I believe that much of the reconciliation between more centralized governance and the scope for democracy - democratic control - will be resolved through an even stronger role of the European Parliament.

Taken slightly historically, the turning point in the E.U. was actually the Single European Act, the Thatcher/Maastricht-era stuff, which was turning the E.U. into very much a market system.

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.

People feel that the EU is heading in a direction that they never signed up to. They resent the interference in our national life by what they see as unnecessary rules and regulation. And they wonder what the point of it all is. Put simply, many ask 'why can't we just have what we voted to join - a common market?'

United States of Europe

European union is our destiny.

Western Europe has been redefining the nation state since 1945 when it formed the European Union following World War II.

Europe must act quickly where it's needed and must, once and for all, let member states handle what is their exclusive domain.

We don't want a European super state.

I have specifically argued that we need to change our relationship with the European Union by fundamentally reforming not just our relationship but the European Union itself.

Under Conservative, Labour, and coalition governments, the U.K. was never willing to accept all the moves to union or all the requirements of the E.U.