The outburst from France's Europe Minister rather cheered me last night.  In accusing the Conservatives of an "autistic" approach (an odd choice of word but perhaps it doesn't translate accurately), he has proved that however much regret there is that the British will not have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the Conservative approach is one that is robust, in Britain's best interests and a genuine threat to French and German plans for a European superstate.

As Monsieur Lellouche said, Britain is very important in Europe.  He also rightly pointed out that we live in "a time of tumultuous waters all around us.  Wars, terrorism, proliferation, Afghanistan, energy with Russia, massive immigration, economic crisis.  It is time when the destiny of Europe is being defined – whether or not we will exist as a third of the world's GDP capable of fighting it out on climate, on trade, on every … issue on the surface of the Earth".  All true, but just as we work alongside the USA, I do not believe we need a federal superstate to achieve our goals and ambitions.  More importantly, by such an outburst, the French government has demonstrated that finally in David Cameron they see a possible British leader who will not settle for whatever cosy arrangement they or other European nations propose - unless it is in the best interests of this country.

If people are as angry as I am that we have not been given a say on the Lisbon Treaty, remember that it was a Labour government that broke its promise to hold a referendum, supported by the Liberal Democrats.  Now that the treaty has become law, we must avoid such a situation ever arising again.  And we must ensure we have a Prime Minister who fights for Britain's best interests, however unpopular it makes them with their colleagues in Europe and beyond.  Europe needs Britain as much as we need our ties with other EU nations.  It is time to remind them of that.

 Speaking at the latest Conservative public meeting held in Eltham - this time on the subject of Europe, with Shadow Minister Mark Francois MP.

In the latest of my public meetings across the constituency I was pleased to see a big turnout to discuss Europe on Thursday night.  Shadow Minister for Europe, Mark Francois MP, spoke before taking questions on a vast array of areas of European policy.  Clearly, people feel very angry to have been denied the promised referendum on the Lisbon Treaty - and rightly so.  There is also no enthusiasm for Tony Blair becoming El Presidente of Europe.  What struck me most about this meeting and the others we have held on a variety of subjects is that far from not being interested in politics, people simply don't get the opportunity to properly discuss issues.  Only the Conservatives in Eltham are prepared to deal in 'real' debate and not just sound bites.  As a resident said afterwards, it is the first time she had ever been invited to a public forum to discuss her opinions.  She has never even received a letter from Labour - even though she pays for the Labour MP to distribute his propaganda annual report to all homes across the constituency.  

Europe is back on the political agenda and with the rumour mill in overdrive that after being landed with an unelected Labour Prime Minister we may now be lumbered with an unelected Labour President as well, this has never been more important.

I have invited the Shadow Minister for Europe, Mark Francois MP, to visit Eltham on Thursday 29th October to hear your views.  Please join us at St Luke's Church Hall, Westmount Road, from 7pm.  The meeting starts at 7.30pm.  All local residents are welcome to attend.  This is the latest in a series of public meetings and neighbourhood events I have arranged.  It is vital for the most senior politicians at Westminster to hear what people in Eltham think.  For too long we have been ignored or taken for granted.  I do not intend to allow that to continue.

It has been the busiest Conference I have ever attended.  Whilst there has been the usual catching up with old friends and sharing ideas with people from across the country, there have been a large number of meetings.  Many of those meetings have been important in my efforts to ensure Eltham is properly represented and its residents heard.

In policy terms, there have been some very significant announcements.  Among them are serious proposals to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, and an end to the policy of putting the rights of criminals ahead of their victims.  Families and children will receive more help and there will be serious efforts to get people back into work.  Our commitment to a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty has been restated and so has our intention to give troops the support - and the equipment - they need and deserve.  Our longer term commitment to cutting taxes have been repeated but only when the country can afford them.  The first priority is to get this country off its knees and back on the road to recovery.  That is a task we all have to work to achieve - and for the first time, a mainstream political party has set out how it plans to do it.  I expect there will be more concrete proposals in David Cameron's speech.  I am now going over to the conference centre to hear what they are.

Many residents ask about Europe when I knock on their doors, whether it's because they're fed up with seeing British sovereignty eroded or the Labour government's broken promise to hold a referendum on the Lisbon treaty.  Many more are anxious about the uncontrolled immigration from across the EU, which the British government alone failed to tackle.

So I am pleased that Mark Francois MP, the Shadow Minister for Europe, will be in Eltham on Thursday 29th October to speak to residents and answer their questions.  This is the latest in a series of public meetings I am organising to enable the community to meet their elected representatives and exchange views.  I feel that in an age when the standing of politicians is so low, such meetings are vital.  I hope many people will take the opportunity to meet and question Mark, the latest in a string of Shadow Cabinet ministers to visit Eltham.  If you would like an invitation, please email me to give your name and address.

The scenes on Parliament Green today deeply disturbed me.  My hatred of the BNP and other extreme parties is well documented, but we must remember that tens of thousands of people elected these two men.  I believe those who voted for them did so largely out of despair, probably not realising the true motives of the party they were supporting.  I certainly hope that is the case.

Throwing eggs and hitting them with placards risks making martyrs of them. And that is my greatest fear.  People should be able to win arguments through democratic means and lawful protest.  Soon these two men will show their true motivation. And when they do I believe people will give them a wide berth.  But there is a risk that people will start feeling sympathy for them if they believe democratically elected representatives are being physically attacked.  It is a fine line to tread but we must retain the moral high ground. And use the shock of this election to ensure we all work harder to ensure in future, people see the benefits of voting for the mainstream political parties.

I am dismayed, angry, furious, but not surprised that the BNP have captured their first European Parliamentary seats.  The tactics of the Labour government have driven people to such despair that they have felt the need to reach for extreme options on their ballot papers.  It now looks obvious that many of those people are former Labour voters.  Indeed, I have met many such people in recent months when calling at homes across the Eltham constituency.   I have spent hours trying to persuade people of the real agenda of the BNP.  Some may have heeded my warning, others not.  But in contrast to the behaviour of the exhausted and now desperate dregs of New Labour, my conscience is clear.  Now we shall have to watch as fascist MEPs represent English regions for the first time.