Ancram: keynote speech

A Conservative government would be prepared to launch a unilateral review of the European Union's "sacred cows" in order to prevent the creation of a federal Europe, Michael Ancram has said.

The shadow foreign secretary committed himself to the crowd-pleasing policy during a speech to the Conservative conference in Bournemouth.

Ancram said it was time to leave behind the "mad dash to full integration" in Europe and called for a review of the EU's structures and powers.

Without the listing specific powers which could be "repatriated" to national governments, Ancram called for a "commonsense Europe" that "works for its people not its bureaucrats".

He said that more account should be taken of national differences and backed more accountability to national parliaments.

And he called for the end of the "unworkable goal" of full political union and the scrapping of attempts to forge a single foreign and security policy.

With the Convention on the Future of Europe currently deliberating on institutional reform, Ancram was dismissive of the chances of it producing conclusions in line with his demands.

"Despite the valiant efforts of our Conservative representatives on the Convention, little if any of this seems likely to be achieved by it," he said.

"What is needed now is a comprehensive review of the EU... And if Europe fails to initiate such a review, we will."

He warned that any move to a constitution for Europe would be unacceptable.

"The stark truth is that a constitution would finally end our rights of self-determination," said the shadow foreign secretary.

"I tell you this, we will fight this rush to a United States of Europe with all the political force at our disposal."

With other European nations highly unlikely to agree to the kind of review Ancram is proposing, his commitments will raise questions over how a Conservative government would "fight" the majority of other governments.

The call echoes William Hague's pledge to block any future European treaties unless he secured opt-outs from EU legislation in all areas except free trade and the single market.

Critics warned that move was setting the party on the "slippery slope" to eventual withdrawal from Europe.

While reform is "urgently needed" Ancram said that his party was not prepared to quit the EU.

"We find ourselves standing between those who want a fully integrated Europe on the one hand and those on the other who want out," he said.

Ancram also warned that Europe was in anger of drifting further away from its alliance with America.

"We will fight growing anti-Americanism within the EU," pledged Ancram.

"The US today is the world's greatest superpower... The reality is that Europe needs America more than America needs Europe."