UNDER BLAIR UK DEBATE ON EUROPE HAS GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE - WATSON

1.39.10pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 26th Jun 2007

Commenting on Tony Blair's term in office a day before he stands down as UK Prime Minister, South West and Gibraltar MEP and European Liberal Democrat Leader Graham Watson said:

"The jury is still out on whether Tony Blair's legacy will be judged broadly positive or negative. What is not in question is that, like another former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, he will be remembered with strong opinions on both sides of the equation.

He has certainly been a very visible and charismatic leader both at home and on the world stage and has shown a tremendous energy and enthusiasm for his role.

However it is precisely in those terms that I regret, and I suspect he also regrets, his failure to change the nature of the UK debate on Europe which has gone from bad to worse.

Blair's obsession with the media has inhibited his ability to confront the populist and wholly inaccurate portrayal of Europe that pervade in much of the UK press. He could and should have done more to promote knowledge about how the EU works and what it aims to achieve.

His speech to the European Parliament two years ago struck a chord across the continent and would have assured him a significant legacy as a European leader if he had succeeded in following it through. I doubt that Gordon Brown has either the will or the ability to lead in Europe - but I would be happy to be proven wrong."