Dr Julian Lewis: Does the Minister [Peter Hain] agree that as deplorable as the result was in which the British National Party won three council seats in this country, there is no comparison between the minuscule support for fascists here and the significant and growing support for fascist and neo-fascist parties on the Continent?  

While not in any way wishing to write-off the prospect of democracy proving triumphant on the Continent in the long run, will the Minister at least acknowledge that that is one reason why some of us, at least in the Opposition, have grave doubts about moves towards political unification with the Continent when its political system is much more likely to elect extremists than ours?