MISSING: THE STRONG MAN OF THE EU
pdf link: Eurofacts Vol. 14, No. 17, (p2), published 19 June 2009
Anthony Scholefield looks at Cameron’s missed opportunity
David Cameron missed his opportunity during the European elections. He could have become the arbiter of EU politics, the ‘strong man’.
Tory policy is to demand a referendum now on the Lisbon Treaty and then to vote against it. However, simultaneously, they refuse to promise a post-ratification referendum on the Treaty and, despite its supposed unacceptable contents, shelter behind the mantra ‘we would not leave matters there’. Even UKIP concedes that the promise of a post-ratification referendum would have gained the Tories many votes on 4th June.
Even in terms of their own stance on the EU, in favour of economic integration but against further political integration, it is difficult to see the advantages of the Tory strategy.
Suppose they had agreed a post ratification referendum and won it. David Cameron would have attended European Councils as the man who made the political weather, mandated by his electorate to rid the Treaty of its obnoxious contents. Would the Europhiles dare to ignore the referendum result? That would be a step too far even for the EU elites, especially if the Tories had then raised the question of UK financial contributions to Brussels.
As it is, Cameron has given away the valuable card of being backed by a popular mandate and will be reduced to accepting the Treaty with its obnoxious contents and vainly seeking modifications - which will be contemptuously brushed aside.
A bad decision and one that turns David Cameron from the potential ‘strong man’ of Europe into a weakened supplicant. It is also likely to mean a festering sore at the heart of Tory policy from the moment an election is won. It will then be Tory ministers standing up to justify each and every EU complication.
David Cameron missed his opportunity during the European elections. He could have become the arbiter of EU politics, the ‘strong man’.
Tory policy is to demand a referendum now on the Lisbon Treaty and then to vote against it. However, simultaneously, they refuse to promise a post-ratification referendum on the Treaty and, despite its supposed unacceptable contents, shelter behind the mantra ‘we would not leave matters there’. Even UKIP concedes that the promise of a post-ratification referendum would have gained the Tories many votes on 4th June.
Even in terms of their own stance on the EU, in favour of economic integration but against further political integration, it is difficult to see the advantages of the Tory strategy.
Suppose they had agreed a post ratification referendum and won it. David Cameron would have attended European Councils as the man who made the political weather, mandated by his electorate to rid the Treaty of its obnoxious contents. Would the Europhiles dare to ignore the referendum result? That would be a step too far even for the EU elites, especially if the Tories had then raised the question of UK financial contributions to Brussels.
As it is, Cameron has given away the valuable card of being backed by a popular mandate and will be reduced to accepting the Treaty with its obnoxious contents and vainly seeking modifications - which will be contemptuously brushed aside.
A bad decision and one that turns David Cameron from the potential ‘strong man’ of Europe into a weakened supplicant. It is also likely to mean a festering sore at the heart of Tory policy from the moment an election is won. It will then be Tory ministers standing up to justify each and every EU complication.