Backlash at Cameron over Euro referendum
Conservative leader under fire from his party – and from UK's European allies
Digg
del.icio.us
Facebook
Reddit
Google
Stumble Upon
Fark
Newsvine
YahooBuzz
Bebo
Twitter
Independent Minds
David Cameron suffered a backlash at home and abroad yesterday as his new policy on Europe upset Tory Eurosceptics and some of Britain's European Union partners.
Two Tory MEPs resigned from their front-bench posts in the European Parliament in protest at Mr Cameron's decision to rule out a referendum on Europe for at least five years.
At Westminster, some Tory MPs expressed alarm at the party's "softly, softly" approach. They fear that a Cameron government would have little or no chance of winning back powers from Brussels over employment rights, criminal justice and ensuring the supremacy of British courts over the European Court of Justice. "It looked good on day one. Now the dust has settled, it looks like we have been sold a pup," said one prominent Eurosceptic.
The Conservative Party's "Blue Blog" was inundated with protests about the change of policy, many of them hostile to Mr Cameron's decision to rule out a referendum now that the Treaty of Lisbon has been ratified by all 27 EU member states.
Mr Cameron was urged by pro-European Tories to expel Roger Helmer and Daniel Hannan from the party after they vowed to continue to campaign for a referendum and quit their posts in the Strasbourg parliament.
Dismissing the party's new line as "essentially cosmetic," Mr Helmer said: "We are installing a largely ineffective burglar alarm when the family silver has already been stolen. But the British people don't want vague promises. They want the family silver back in good order. I can neither justify nor support our new EU policy."
Mr Hannan said he would campaign for "a broad movement within the Conservative Party that will push for referendums, citizens' initiatives and the rest of the paraphernalia of direct democracy".
Some of Britain's European Union partners dismissed the prospect of a Tory Government repatriating powers from Brussels.
Pierre Lellouche, France's Minister for Europe warned that Britain would risk isolation if it made such demands.
"It is out of the question to reopen negotiations on the [Lisbon] treaty," he said. "That would require agreement from the 26 other EU members and I don't think for a single minute that will be possible."
But he backed away from earlier suggestions that the Conservative Party was "autistic." He blamed a mis-translation for yesterday's furore.
Mr Lellouche said the term, which is colloquially used in French to refer to a stubborn person who does not listen, is a common term of political abuse in France.
"In French, the term autistic has been totally trivialised through overuse," said Franck Allisio, his spokesman. "
President Sarkozy is called autistic every day. I understand that in English that this word could shock. That was a glitch. It was a misunderstanding."
View all comments that have been posted about this article.
Offensive or abusive comments will be removed and your IP logged and may be used to prevent further submission. In submitting a comment to the site, you agree to be bound by the Independent Minds Terms of Service.
- Print Article
- Email Article
-
Click here for copyright permissions
Copyright 2009 Independent News and Media Limited
Comments
Christiaan
All for one, one for all. Do you know the secret handshake? OK, we'll trade with you then.
The whole point of the EU, is a trading network. EU countries, in general, only trade with other members. Hmmmm Estonia? Your not on the list, sorry, try again in a few years.
Tories posture a lot, but would never ever consider ever moving out. It's why the notion is consigned to the loony back benches, and UKIP.
Which makes the point, what actually is the point of alienating yourself in this union, if you aren't going to move out?
Mongol Roman Greek Persian are just a few that never recovered and are just memories in the history books
This traitorous parliament appeasements to the E.U. and this mass immigrations is the final nail in the British coffin. perhaps the BNP are now our only saviours’
We fought two world wars in the last century which sapped our strength (and we are still fighting foreign wars “punching above our weight,” i.e. beyond our means). At the same time, power shifted to USA. The Europeans got their act together (looked on paternalistically by Winston Churchill). Now our best chance for a significant role is within the EU. USA is also declining relative to China.
Things are changing. We live in interesting times.
And the more vicious, rabid, disgusting racist types like yourself we can export to Germany in the 1930s or to elsewhere, the better off this country will be.
I myself personally helped build my city of Sheffield along side my two brother and many others when they returned
I have worked to build my cities homes schools hospitals and roads but by many who have never build any thing in their entire life I am a racist fascist
This parliament to some is the future of my country but to me they are nothing less than lying embezzling traitors who want to destroy our race and culture while the BNP are tying to preserve it
So if that?s being a racist or fascist you and the British traitors so be it
A nationalist WILL remember our British and Commonwealth war heroes every day not just once a year
I haven't forgotten the suffering of my own family members and compatriots during the war; and I am no less a patriot, sir, than you claim to be.
None of the above responds to my point about the BNP being a nazi group and how shameful it is that some people in the UK -- even though they tend to be knuckle-draggers -- are supporting such a criminal organization.
1 Devolution.
2 The Barnnett Formula.
3 Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, Nr. Ireland Assembly.
4 NO ENGLISH PARLIAMENT.
5 Total disregard for the English people, their culture, rights, and privileges, in favor of ethnic minorities.
6 Want's to give Scotland limited tax gathering powers, (a stepping stone to independence).
Then there's the Scottish led Conservative Party, the Main opposition party led by Cameron.
1 He has been reported as saying there's more Scottish blood in his body than any other.
2 Will not reverse devolution (despite saying he wants to protect a united Britain).
3 Uses this excuse to not give England a parliament (within the devolution framework).
4 Says anyone who want's an English parliament wants to break up the British Union, even though it's already being broken up by his fellow countrymen in New Labour.
5 He seems to be trying to take the Conservative party in the opposite direction to that wanted by the rest of his party, in relation to the EU.
6 It seems to me a bit suspicious that the two main political parties are headed by Scotsmen, who for all the world would like people to think they are on opposite sides, (except where Scotland is concerned).
I'm not the one ditching the UK, but maybe those in power, or who want to be in power, want to ditch England???
Seems the great unwashed's perception is somewhat different from the centre-left "narrative" on Europe.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Li
Sometimes you need to fight windmills!
A tyranny will once again fall across a large part of Europe from 1st December 2009. Unlike in 1940/41 Britain itself falls under the control of that tyranny along with most of mainland Western Europe.
In future any changes through the ballot box in the former nation states of the EU can only marginally change the outcome of nearly all public policy. Only in Germany will voters have a real say in the future direction of public policy with a minor influence (potentially and only from time to time available) to the French establishment.
The collapse of the Opel/GM deal in Germany is perhaps the first sign of the growing tensions which will now arise. Disagreements over the appointments of the President and High Representative will cause further wounds which will no doubt quickly begin to fester. The economic crisis only now becoming fully discernible in Euroland will add to the inevitable strains.
Britain as a nation can hope to achieve little to ease these problems. Considering its present crop of political leaders they will be unable to even grasp their own country's problems, only some of which may be laid at the door of the EU.
Democrats everywhere must be completely shattered by this now potential totalitarian takeover of 27 former sovereign nations with merely a bleet of protest. All the reins of power for a dictatorship have now been created with NONE of the normal and necessary democratic constraints!
Somewhere a pan-EU democratic movement must be formed to begin to resist what is now inevitable. In view of the history of the UK, surely here is the place to start. Are there democrats enough available will Hannan and Helmer resign and lead?
We stood alone in 1939, and we are falling alone in 1999.
We will have to redouble our fight for freedom and democracy.
The first thing to do is to get rid of our Stalinist government. While we are at it, the Conservatives, their partners in the duopoly, have to go as well.
Let's get some leaders that value our country more than themselves.
Central control, spying on the people, rigging trials, murdering millions to achieve political ends, destruction of freedom and democracy, deception of the populace.
All of these things and more besides can be laid at the door of Brown, Blair ant the rest of them.
http://www.europeanpp.wordpress.com
.
You have to start somewhere.
In point of fact I, too, would find it difficult to actually say what the benefits of EU membership were. Perhaps it's time that some real money was spent on educating us - or is it (whisper it softly) simply more convenient for our own politicians to blame 'them' for any unpopular measures, while claiming the credit for anything good?
I'm unaware if you were alive in 1972, but I'll offer a history lesson anyway.
Anyway, we were a nation of shop keepers and localised national businesses. Nice for the people who had money and trades. The rest of us were living below the poverty line.
Why - The EU is very much a union. Just like a trade union. You only trade with other union members. You only do favours for other members. If you want a piece of the pie, join up.
Anyway, after being frozen out of European trade for a decade, eventually the tory party decided enough was enough, and wanted a bit of the world pie. So petitioned to be allowed in the common market - the old name for the EU.
After 2 failed attempts (France and Germany vetoed the first 2 as they wanted the pie to themselves) we were finally let in, and Europes exclusive trading markets were open to us.
Within 10 years we went from one of the poorest nations in Europe, and a nation of corner shop keepers, to one of the banking, trade, consumer capitals of the entire planet.
Corner shops were traded for multi national super market chains. Cafes were traded for Starbucks etc etc.
You have to remember, the EU is a union. If you don't want to be in it, you are frozen out.
EU countries only trade with each other, in Europe. That's the entire point
But what you've eulogized is the Common Market. The European Union is so much more than that. I was all of 16 in 1972, I do know some of that history you've potted for me. You may be right - though I'd question how true that is, given that the markets now emerging in Asia are likely to become much more important then mere local European ones - but that's not relevant.
The perception of the EU is what's important. Ask "What did the Romans ever do for us?" and you'll get the classic Monty Python response, roads, sanitation, etc. Ask the same question about the EU, and you'll probably just get a blank stare, or perhaps be harangued about loss of self-rule in some guise or another.
If the EU is important to us, it needs to make sure we know it - because if the senior politicians there aren't careful, they'll find the pressure for a vote on British membership has grown impossible to stop, and a resounding 'NO' has resulted.
I don't say that would be a good thing, or in Britain's best interest. But ignoring the problem will not make it go away.
If you're not in it, you are out of the trade loop.
That's basically it. And why everyone, other than the UK, want to join up
It is time for the Tories to grow up and recognize that the world has changed.
It's about co-operation and negotiation not bluster and bullying
We should try to be good neighbours rather than cantankerous egotists.
I’m alarmed how many people’s beliefs in regards to Europe go along hand in with what The Sun spouts out every week.
You know, a lot of newspapers, and people in fact, are very proud to be British, and attack any threat to their British nationality. I have no real issue with this at all.
The only point being, the EU is one of these attacks, and their defence mechanism is to just attack it, and spread false rumours on it.
Having lived in France and Germany, the paranoia is really rather laughable. The theory that the EU has any interest in taking sovereignty from any nation is.
The EU is, and will always be just a sign of globalisation in business. And small countries who need to gang up, to be able to compete with the likes of China and The USA.
I never ever get the anti eu argument.
Are we ever ever going to pull out of the EU, under any government. NO. Not a chance. As we’d probably turn into a second world country within a couple of decades. A lot of Britain’s wealth is based on access to EU trading groups. Even Thatcher saw it as vitally important to be part of that.
So if we are never going to pull out, what is the point of standing on the fringers, and just shouting to people about how British we are? Why they just shrug their shoulders, and take all the money that the EU develops.
You know, it’s maybe a valiant sociological stance in the eyes of Mail readers perhaps– we will never be ruled guffaw guffaw– but ultimately pointless.
Lord Mandleson is totally right this time. If you work in business, you will realise how much the business world has changed in this digital age. Most business is multi national – a partnership between many countries – so these trade links are paramount.
Sorry – the whole argument is tabloid pride. The Sun not wanting to bow down to any foreigner on anything. It has little to do with sovereignty.
They simply try to sensationaliaze the subject, to get public backing.
They will steal your flags! And ban strawberry jam! And make you pledge allegiance to the croissant!
Cold hard facts. Britain was on it’s knees in 1972, begging to be allowed in. You know, you can either be proud and poor, or prosperous and progressive.
The thought that Britiain would be able to compete with the likes of Germany, France, USA, China outside the EU is laughable. We struggle to keep inside the EU.
Most of the British want their own sovereignty, their own laws, their own defence, etc.
They do not want these diluted in any way by the federal United States of Europe that we will become part of on the 1st of December.
When they realise they have been tricked, there will be hell to pay.
There are always people who dream of uprisals and mass movements. I'm one of those people. I dream that the people will get mobilized and create the parties and institutions that will deal with thedemocratic deficit of the EU, rather than complaining and hoping that the politicians will willingly erode their own power and net-worth to the interest groups that warrantee their retirement plan. Unfortunately, I see no evidence of a mass movement to change what is within our power to change, through even legitimate and legal means... so the idea that on the 1st of December everyone going to wake up and rebel... not much of a chance of that happening.
.
As I keep suggesting, lets take one step at the time, we can do this... but we actually HAVE to do it. Nobody is going to do it for us. Join the European Participation Party, help shape it, help make it a known entity. Don't keep leaving it up to us or some MEP who resigned..
.
http://www.europeanpp.wordpress.com
.
A fine idea, but I do not wish to participate in EU politics.
I prefer to direct my political efforts to getting rid of our own undemocratic system which permits a duopoly to have dictatorial powers; our country is being wrecked by the reds and blues manipulating everything to personal advantage.
If we end up like Switzerland, I will be more than satisfied.
Even being the 53rd USA state would be better than what we have been let in for now.
I moved to Singapore to work, in 1994. After a few months in the country, I realised that there was a certifiable local political campaign, to rid the country of white, western workers.
The claim being, hiring these skilled (world leading in the field) westerners was doing mediocre locals out of jobs, and hurting the country. Even though, the closer truth was, it was turning the country from a 3rd world country to one of the richest business capitals in the world.
There were the same rants about “attacks on sovereignty” and “erosion of Singaporean way of life” that these east-west trade/business links created.
There were media rumours/smears campaigns, that westerners were “boozy”, “drug taking” hooligans, who spent most of their time in the country drinking, pillaging, and corrupting the nations fair maidens.
Before you knew it, you had local taxi drivers and firms refusing to take your business, when you hadn’t done anything worse than trying to create wealth for the countries citizens.
You know – fear of foreigners is a natural impules. That comes from thousands of years of being invaded and occupied. Countries like the UK uber sensitive because they have been invaded and occupied more than anyone. And that lack of trust still goes on today.
However, like above, sometimes you have to see the bigger picture, and realise that in a modern world, you have to put primal fears behind you