On Mark Mardell’s euroblog (hat tip: James Forsyth), we learn that the refusal to allow the British people to say whether they wish to surrender to the EU what remains of their powers of self-government is not the least of the danger posed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown when it comes to Europe:

Keeping the door open for Turkey is a key aim of British foreign policy, and Brown is seriously worried that this is now under threat. I’m told he argues that there are three phases in the European Union project to create stability on the continent. The first was establishing democracy and prosperity after the war. The second was reuniting Europe after the iron curtain came down. But the third phase has only just started. That is to engage Muslims within Europe, both within existing borders, but also by making welcoming noises to Turkey, Albania and depending what happens there, Kosovo. The French President Nicholas Sarkozy wants to put the kybosh on this. He’s demanding that the European Union sets up a group of ‘wise men’: a dozen senior statesmen to examine what Europe should look like in 10 to 20 years’ time. That translates not too roughly as ‘Stop Turkey!’ and he makes few bones about it.

The French lion — and the British beef-eating surrender-monkey.

*In 1683, Europe stopped the 300 year advance of the Ottoman empire at the Battle of Vienna.