Blair accused of surrender over Europe constitution

Tony Blair today faced charges of surrender to Europe after reports that the Government is preparing a retreat over the planned EU constitution.

The Prime Minister - who heads for an EU summit in Brussels tomorrow - was said to be ready to abandon the right to veto moves towards a Europewide justice system.

The proposals for new rules giving the EU the power to govern "the rights of individuals in criminal procedures and the rights of victims of crime" were being presented as valuable weapons in the fight against terrorism and other international crime.

But the Tories and others were gearing up for a fierce attack on Mr Blair accusing him of a sell-out, transferring control of large parts of the legal system from Westminster to Brussels.