The Government in Crisis: Hurd angered socialist members of the European Parliament

Douglas Hurd, the Foreign Secretary, angered socialist members of the European Parliament yesterday when he warned that the Labour Party was heading towards voting against the Maastricht treaty when it is presented to the Commons next week, writes Tim Jackson.

Mr Hurd, who was reporting to the Parliament on the results of the Birmingham summit earlier this month, was accused of attempting to deflect attention from the problems of the Conservative Party.

He said in an unscripted aside: 'In recent days we have seen a change for the worse in the attitude of the British Labour Party, which if confirmed is a serious matter.'

Two-speed Europe, page 10

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