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Europe is key UK poll issue


Hague says he represents supporters of "an independent Britain"

LONDON, England -- The first full day of campaigning ahead of next month's UK general election has seen the parties setting out the main issues, including Europe and immigration.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has put Britain's relationship with its European neighbours at the heart of his campaign for a second term of office.

Blair -- who is committed to holding a referendum on Britain's entry to a European single currency -- said the campaign was a chance to explain "the big issues and about the country's destiny and direction."

His comments followed his announcement on Tuesday of the June 7 date for the election.

Opposition Conservative leader William Hague said on Wednesday he plans to play up European issues for at least 13 of the 30 days of the election.

He accuses Prime Minister Tony Blair of being willing to take Britain into a European superstate, and says that an election victory for the Conservatives is the best way of stopping Britain from being taken into a European single currency.

Blair will suggest that the Conservatives have a secret agenda which involves taking Britain out of the 15-country alliance and that such a prospect would alarm electors.

Robin Oakley, CNN European Political Editor, said: "The party leaders have locked horns swiftly on the key issues in the election campaign.

"For the Government, Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown are highlighting Labour�s economic record, arguing that they have ended the �boom and bust� period under recent Conservative governments.

"Now, they say, they have the resources for big spending on public services like health and education.

"Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy charges that Labour have failed to do enough on public services in their first term and promises that his party will tell the truth on taxation, giving the British people a menu with prices.

"For the Conservatives, William Hague, who promises tax cuts, insists that Blair is not so much standing on his record as running away from it.�

Although other issues will play a role in the campaign -- not least crime, education and health - it is on the issue of Europe and immigration that Blair's Labour Party can point to a clear distinction between it and the opposition Conservatives.

Hague, who runs a 'Keep The Pound' campaign, said British voters were appalled by "political correctness" and by the loss of British sovereignty to Europe.

"To all those people who believe in an independent Britain, we are in it for you and we are going to give you back your country," he told supporters.

Meanwhile, the first opinion poll since Blair called the general election showed Labour on course to increase its House of Commons majority.

The NOP poll for the Daily Express newspaper recorded a 20-point lead for Labour over the main opposition Conservative Party, with Blair's party on 51 percent.

If that margin of victory was reproduced on June 7, Labour could secure a majority of as much as 255 -- an improvement of 76 on its current 179-seat advantage.