CHARLES KENNEDY: "You 'can' be patriotic AND Pro-European!"

"The case for our future in Europe will come from mainstream and respected figures from 'all' parties. The best of the Labour government and the best of the Conservatives. I will be there too. We 'all' have to be there, as part of the 'Britain In Europe' campaign!"

"The government's inadequate leadership on the issue of Europe has been a source of persistent criticism from Liberal Democrats.

Until now. The Prime Minister's decision to put himself at the head of the Britain in Europe campaign indicates that he has decided to give the lead for which we have long been calling. This is a decisive moment. Britain's relationship with Europe is the single most important issue facing Britain as we move into the new millenium. During my leadership campaign I said that it would be one of my highest priorities as leader.

That is why I am making my first appearance at a fringe meeting at this conference on a Britain in Europe platform. Today I will pledge to fight side by side with the Prime Minister, Ken Clarke, and Michael Heseltine in leading the Britain in Europe campaign. This is a signal of the importance that we Liberal Democrats give to this issue and the crucial role we have to play in this historic new coalition.

The launch of Britain in Europe creates a new divide in British politics. The campaign represents the mainstream, commonsense views of the vast majority of British people. As well as Blair, Clarke, and Heseltine, the campaign enjoys the support of most British businesses. A poll by the CBI published in July found that 83 per cent of firms do not want to close the option of Britain joining the single currency. A recent poll by the Institute of Directors reinforced that view, revealing that more than two-thirds of IoD members insist Britain should maintain a credible option to join, if the economic conditions are met. The campaign also has the support of senior figures from the trade union movement, voluntary sector, and local government.

I hope that all Liberal Democrats will join me in registering their support for the campaign. Our activists have a critical role to play. Other parties have come to fear our campaigning skills and ability to mobilise voters and I hope that we can use those skills to win this debate.

Britain in Europe is a test-bed for the new politics we want to create. I have always said we should co-operate with sensible Conservatives as well as pro-European Labour people on issues where we agree. Now we have the opportunity to translate our convictions into action.

All these groups and individuals have come round to the long held Liberal Democrat view that Britain gains greatly from its membership of the European Union and should maintain a credible option to join the single currency.

On the other side of this new faultline in British politics there is still a small minority of anti-European fanatics. For many of them the secret agenda is to take Britain out of the European Union altogether. Let no one be fooled: they oppose the single currency as a means to that end. Margaret Thatcher's dinner party comment that EU membership had been 'a disaster' puts her in the same camp as Tony Benn - who described EU membership as a "decapitation of British democracy". The antics of the CAFE group publicised over the summer simply reveal the repressed views of the anti-EMU brigade. Their members, who reach into William Hague's Shadow Cabinet, have called for renegotiation of our membership, which can only lead to withdrawal.

Britain gains so much from its membership of the European Union, it hard to believe that anybody can still question that it is in our national interest. We gain economically. How many people know that EU countries account for almost 60% of our visible exports - up from 35% when we joined in 1973? Or that three and a half million British jobs are linked to that trade with Europe?

We also gain socially. It is only because of a European Court ruling in 1976 that British women are entitled to equal pay with men. Similarly, married women secured their right for invalid care allowance thanks to the EU.

Winning the battle for Britain in Europe is vital to Britain's future as a powerful, global player. Anyone who believes in promoting Britain's national interest should support the idea that Britain should be a strong, influential, and constructive leader in the European Union - for that is where our national interest lies.

Sustained cross-party co-operation of this sort is untried in British politics. In 1975, political opponents came together for the short span of the referendum campaign. Now, we are entering into long term co-operation to end the uncertainty which has characterised Britain's relationship with Europe and to demolish the anti-Europeanism which has undermined that relationship!"

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