Rt Hon Charles Kennedy

KENNEDY TELLS PRIME MINISTER THE EUROPEAN REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN WILL NEED TO BE HANDLED MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Embargo: Immediate, 19th April 2004

Charles Kennedy, the Liberal Democrat leader, looked forward to a campaign for a referendum on the European Constitution, but questioned the way it is being announced.

'The Liberal Democrats have long argued for a constitution for the European Union, which will define more clearly what the EU does - and does not - have a say in.

I look forward to hearing the Prime Minister say that we will now have a referendum, so the British people have the final word on what it contains.

But the way it is being announced is both amateurish and clumsy. One minute the Foreign Secretary is scheduled to tell Parliament; the next it's the Prime Minister. Nods and winks and off the record briefings to selected reporters and newspapers are not the way to tell the country about a matter of such importance.

The campaign itself will have to be run with more confidence and clarity than this.'

ENDS

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