The EU loyalty problem

The BBC report the first question at today's PMQs thus:

"1205 The first question is from Tory MP Ann Winterton - about the Lisbon treaty. Is the PM obliged to put the objectives of the EU ahead of those of the UK? Mr Brown, unsurprisingly, says he is not."

That's odd, because I have raised this point several times previously: most recently here regarding Peter Mandelson (and on several previous occasions) and also here regarding Leon Brittan, here regarding Neil Kinnock and others. You might also be interested in The Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament that has some rather interesting requirements that often seem to be ignored.

In fact Ann Winterton's question was somewhat more specific than the BBC report and of course Gordon Brown's reply, unsurprisingly, was not completely honest.

Here is the wording of Ann Winterton's question as per my transcription, I will add Hansard's version tomorrow:

"When the Lisbon Treaty comes into force the European Council will become a formal institution of the European Union. As the United Kingdom member of that institution will the Prime Minister confirm that he is bound by its rules and is thus obliged to further the objectives of the European Union in preference to those of the United Kingdom?"

This is Gordon Brown's reply:

"We joined the European Union in the 1970s, we hold by our obligations to the European Union but that does not prevent us representing the national sovereignty of this country."

Does that answer the question asked? I think not...



UPDATE:

Here is the exchange as per Hansard:

"Ann Winterton: ...

When the Lisbon treaty comes into force, the European Council will become a formal institution of the European Union, and the United Kingdom will be a member of that institution. Will the Prime Minister confirm that he is bound by its rules, and is thus obliged to further the objectives of the European Union in preference to those of the United Kingdom?

The Prime Minister: ... We joined the European Union in the 1970s, and we hold by our obligations to the European Union, but that does not prevent us from representing the national sovereignty of this country."