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		EU rebate sell out Plenary Speech - Tuesday 20th December 2005 Mr. President When the Prime Minister came to Strasbourg in October, I told him that he had come to survey the shattered wreckage of his European dreams. Little did I realise then quite how comprehensive that wreckage would be. It is bad enough that he has failed to deliver the ambitious reforms which he promised in June. But as a British Conservative, I am appalled at the way he has failed our country, and failed my East Midlands constituents. Early this year, Prime Minister, you boasted that the British rebate was not on the table, period. Then you put it on the table, and boasted that you were the first Prime Minister to do so - but only in exchange for radical reform of the budget and the CAP. Now you are selling it in salami slices, with nothing in return but fool's gold and vacuous promises. No wonder Gordon Brown said that "No one believes a word you say any more". Britain's favourite newspaper, The Sun, says "Tony Blair is to surrender billions of pounds of taxpayer's cash, and get nothing in return". In its editorial of December 1st, it says "This is treachery". Treachery, Prime Minister. Not a nice word. Not my word. The Sun's word. But I and millions of Sun readers agree. You are giving away a huge sum of money, simply as a fig-leaf for your failure. But this is not your money, or the government's money. It is our money. It is the tax-payers' money. They say you are concerned about your legacy. Prime Minister, I can tell you what your legacy will be. You will be remembered as the man who squandered Margaret Thatcher's legacy. See also this press release