There were alarming theories doing the rounds in the Sunday papers about the latest EU meeting at which, it is alleged, David Cameron will begin the process of backing down from his stance, a highly popular one, at the end of last year, which saw him become the first British prime minister to veto an EU treaty. Is he now succumbing to the usual pressure which sees our PMs bow to the collective EU will? Are the Euro fanatics the Lib Dems once again asserting pressure and managing to bounce the government into positions which the vast majority of MPs in the coalition, not to mention a majority of voters in this democracy do not support? How do the junior partners get such clout and who gave it to them?
David Cameron last year argued for specific protections for Britain, specifically for our financial services industry. He should not budge from that position. But further he should now insist on a higher price for our allowing through a new treaty and thus enabling Euro members to use EU institutions which they cannot do without our agreement. We want specific opt outs, in the same way we opted out of the Euro and used to be outside the remit of the social chapter until Labour surrendered in another forlorn attempt to put us 'at the centre of Europe.' If Cameron surrenders now the EU will merely pocket a concession from us before coming back for more in a few months time. That is how this process works. It is why we find ourselves in a union for which nobody voted.
It is said that David Cameron and William Hague feel that the Euro is doomed to failure and so do not see the point of kicking up a fuss about a treaty that will never come into force. But that is a ridiculous and short sighted approach whose only benefit will be in the short term, making for an easy life and more content coalition partners. Yet the Lib Dems and indeed the EU are on the wrong side of public opinion here. Surely it would suit us now to tell our lemming like partners that they are of course free to pursue whatever path they want to, but we want out and we want guarantees that their blind defence of the Euro and all that goes with it will not deleteriously affect Britain which had the foresight to warn of what would come and secure that golden opt out.
We do not need to surrender to French intransigence and Sarkozy's temper tantrums. We need not fear the righteous anger of EU leaders if once again we say no and insist on sticking up for our national interests. The Euro is broken and the price of repairs is ruinously high. Britain should refuse to pay that price and insist upon a new settlement which better suits our semi-detached approach to Europe. Ultimately history will judge us as being right and this may be seen as the point at which Europe started to be redefined and reformed by the realists across the channel rather than the dreamers in Brussels. If Cameron holds fast it might even hand him the next election. He certainly need have no fear of about upsetting the Lib Dems. That is just a bonus.
PS
The news that Stephen Hester is turning down his bonus is mixed news for the government. Yes it gets them off the hook but also makes them look weak. Can Dave now afford to look weak and pusillanimous in Europe too? He has had a good start to 2012 by and large but things could easily unravel.
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