Oh do shut up about Europe! Why did the Tories abandon the wisdom of Thatcher and Major?

A Tory veteran of the party's internal squabbling over Europe says that the EU may be a nightmare, but the only pragmatic approach is to engage with it intelligently

Share
Related Topics

In the current “crisis” over the EU budget - with vote in the Commons today - many so-called Eurosceptic MPs have been sounding off all over the place. Their views maybe deeply patriotic (no problem with that) but most of them have never actually had to sit at the top table where real decisions are made - as Margaret Thatcher did.

It was Margaret Thatcher who signed the Single European Act. These Eurosceptics have explained to me that she was bullied into doing so by Lynda Chalker - but it was hardly a characteristic of her Prime Ministership that she was constantly being bullied into taking decisions she did not want to take. No.

The Single European Act (which set up the Single Market) remains a monument to her contribution to the EU. The Single Market still needs improvement but most observers would regard it as the Jewel in the Crown of Europe.

Being sceptical in the EU is Britain's job. It's what we do. The problem the Conservative Party faces is that some so-called Eurosceptics are in fact anti-Europeans.

John Major was another proper Eurosceptic in the best tradition. At Maastricht he not only stepped aside from the Euro and declined to sign up to the Social Chapter, but on a whole raft of other minor issues he was the awkward squad from start to finish. No doubt in the Quai d'Orsay he would have been described as “un vrai boulet”. The Spaniards - more blunt in these matters - would simply have said that he was a “coñazo”.

Diplomacy

I well recall the final minutes at Maastricht. The Chairman, Prime Minister Lubbers, was summing up and bringing the meeting to a close. He said there was just one minor point which he felt could be taken on the nod. Oh dear! - The awkward squad put his hand up and, in a rather charming self-deprecating way, explained why the UK Government could not go along with this particular item. Lubbers hesitated for a moment - “Oh alright. Meeting closed”.

John Major then received a standing ovation from his colleagues. I remember well Chancellor Kohl crossing the room and shaking him warmly by the hand.

That's what I call constructive Euroscepticism. Out of the Euro. Out of the Social Chapter. Setting up the inter-governmental pillars. The principle of subsidiarity. Its called diplomacy. We are quite good at it.

I suspect David Cameron and William Hague are quite good at it too. But Parliament and the country need to give them a little room for manoeuvre. I was disappointed to see the Labour Party, which seems to oppose any cuts in public expenditure in the UK, rather recklessly jumping onto a bandwagon on the EU budget.

Similarly, what used to be called the serious press in the UK seem happy to slip-stream behind the often ill-informed propaganda of the anti-Europeans.

Surely it might be of some interest to the British public to know that the “massive bureaucracy” at the European Commission employs less people than the admirable Kent County Council? Surely, the “massive corruption” in the EU budget should be placed at the door of the Member States (where it actually takes place) and not the Commission. Twenty years ago at least the sums involved were substantially less than the total amount of fraud in the UK social security budget. I expect much the same applies to day.

Shut up

If proper British Euro-scepticism is to play a constructive part in the EU its time many of these flag waving myths were confronted. Its time for some Conservatives to simply shut up and place their trust in Cameron and Hague.

My support may well be a negative. After all, I am a Euro-fanatic “wet” appointed by John Major. In fact I was appointed by Margaret Thatcher. On appointment I had a conversation with her on Europe and found myself in total harmony. I remain profoundly grateful to her - as I had indicated my wish to step down from the Whips Office and retire (surely someone must have bullied her into appointing me?).

The truth is with that the EU is a bit of a nightmare (as are most international organisations). The trick is to play your hand with firmness, courtesy, guile and - yes - a bit of give-and-take.

I have no doubt Cameron and Hague are more than capable of doing that - provided their own supporters are not looking over their shoulder and trying to announce to the whole world what cards they hold in their hand.

An illustration of how much can be achieved if you play your hand right was given by Spain at Maasricht. We, along with our German friends introduced a text on Animal Welfare.

The Spanish managed to amend it in such a way as to ensure that the Bullfight is protected from any interference by the ECJ and the Animalist lobby in the rest of the EU. And if you can do that you can do almost anything.

React Now

Latest stories from i100
Have you tried new the Independent Digital Edition apps?
iJobs Job Widget
iJobs General

The Jenrick Group: Project Engineer

£33000 - £35000 per annum + Pension and holidays: The Jenrick Group: Project E...

The Jenrick Group: Maintenance Technician

£35200 per annum + Pension and holidays: The Jenrick Group: Maintenance Engine...

The Jenrick Group: Quality Inspector

£27000 per annum + pension + holidays: The Jenrick Group: A Quality Technician...

The Jenrick Group: Maintenance Engineer

£30000 - £33000 per annum + Pension and holidays: The Jenrick Group: A fast pa...

Day In a Page

Read Next
Travelers are locked out of Finsbury Park station, London, where they were directed to go as trains in and out of King's Cross have been cancelled  

Our public services are in steep decline. Can we change track?

Steve Richards
A festive cat (not the author's) embraces the Christmas spirit  

In Sickness and in Health: The adventures of Badger the cat (aka Santa claws)

Rebecca Armstrong
A timely reminder of the bloody anniversary we all forgot

A timely reminder of the bloody anniversary we all forgot

Who remembers that this week we enter the 150th anniversary year of the end of the American Civil War, asks Robert Fisk
Homeless Veterans appeal: Former soldiers pay their respects to a friend who also served

Homeless Veterans appeal

Former soldiers pay their respects to a friend who also served
Downfall of Dustin 'Screech' Diamond, the 'Saved By The Bell' star charged with bar stabbing

Scarred by the bell

The downfall of the TV star charged with bar stabbing
Why 2014 was a year of technological let-downs

Why 2014 was a year of technological let-downs

Security breaches and overhyped start-ups dominated a year in which very little changed (save the size of your phone)
Cuba's golf revolution: But will the revolutionary nation take 'bourgeois' game to its heart?

Will revolutionary Cuba take 'bourgeois' golf to its heart?

Fidel Castro ridiculed the game – but now investment in leisure resort projects is welcome
The Locked Room Mysteries: As a new collection of the genre’s best is published, its editor Otto Penzler explains the rules of engagement

The Locked Room Mysteries

As a new collection of the genre’s best is published, its editor explains the rules of engagement
Amy Adams on playing painter Margaret Keane in Tim Burton's Big Eyes

How I made myself Keane

Amy Adams hadn’t wanted to take the role of artist Margaret Keane, because she’d had enough of playing victims. But then she had a daughter, and saw the painter in a new light
Ed Richards: Parting view of Ofcom chief. . . we hate jokes on the disabled

Parting view of Ofcom chief... we hate jokes on the disabled

Bad language once got TV viewers irate, inciting calls to broadcasting switchboards. But now there is a worse offender, says retiring head of the media watchdog, Ed Richards
A look back at fashion in 2014: Wear in review

Wear in review

A look back at fashion in 2014
Ian Herbert: My 10 hopes for sport in 2015. Might just one of them happen?

Ian Herbert: My 10 hopes for sport in 2015

Might just one of them happen?
War with Isis: The West needs more than a White Knight

The West needs more than a White Knight

Despite billions spent on weapons, the US has not been able to counter Isis's gruesome tactics, says Patrick Cockburn
Return to Helmand: Private Davey Graham recalls the day he was shot by the Taliban

'The day I was shot by the Taliban'

Private Davey Graham was shot five times during an ambush in 2007 - it was the first, controversial photograph to show the dangers our soldiers faced in Helmand province
Revealed: the best and worst airlines for delays

Revealed: the best and worst airlines for delays

Many flyers are failing to claim compensation to which they are entitled, a new survey has found
The stories that defined 2014: From the Scottish independence referendum to the Ice Bucket Challenge, our writers voice their opinions

The stories that defined 2014

From the Scottish independence referendum to the Ice Bucket Challenge, our writers voice their opinions
Stoke-on-Trent becomes first British city to be classified as 'disaster resilient' by the United Nations

Disaster looming? Now you know where to head...

Which British city has become the first to be awarded special 'resilience' status by the UN?