editorial cartoons

The UK takes over the continuously rotating role of the EU presidency for the next 6-months. It could turn out to be an unwanted baton (or poisoned chalice, depending on your choice of metaphor), since these are troubled times for the EU; most notably the referendum/constitution issue; France's "non" vote has thrown the ratification of the constitution into doubt. Difficulties in presenting the argument for the constitution to the British electorate and boosting public support for the Union are exacerbated by the simmering feud between Blair and Brown. Here they are running in a Presidents' Hurdles Relay race. They are both running in the same lane, tied together inextricably as a three-legged entrant, and are about to come a cropper on the "constitution hurdle" topped with broken glass. They both have temporary EU flags pinned over their Union Jack vests.

E! Sharp cover; July-August 2005

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