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Clegg: Retreat to EU margins 'economic suicide' | Clegg: Retreat to EU margins 'economic suicide' |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has warned it would be "economic suicide" for Britain to "retreat to the margins" of Europe. | Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has warned it would be "economic suicide" for Britain to "retreat to the margins" of Europe. |
Writing in the Observer, Mr Clegg said it would be a "sure-fire way to hurt British businesses and lose jobs". | Writing in the Observer, Mr Clegg said it would be a "sure-fire way to hurt British businesses and lose jobs". |
On Monday, 80 Conservative MPs defied the prime minister by backing a referendum on the UK's EU membership. | On Monday, 80 Conservative MPs defied the prime minister by backing a referendum on the UK's EU membership. |
David Cameron has denied this showed the coalition was divided on whether any powers should be repatriated. | David Cameron has denied this showed the coalition was divided on whether any powers should be repatriated. |
He has suggested that both he and Mr Clegg, whose Liberal Democrats are traditionally pro-European, agreed there should be some "rebalancing". | He has suggested that both he and Mr Clegg, whose Liberal Democrats are traditionally pro-European, agreed there should be some "rebalancing". |
In his comment piece, Mr Clegg said it was clear the 17 eurozone nations were moving towards more fiscal integration and the European landscape was "about to change". | In his comment piece, Mr Clegg said it was clear the 17 eurozone nations were moving towards more fiscal integration and the European landscape was "about to change". |
'Sacrificing influence' | 'Sacrificing influence' |
But he complained two extremes were dominating the debate on how Britain should respond - one which calls for a more centralised EU and another pushing for the UK to draw away from the union. | But he complained two extremes were dominating the debate on how Britain should respond - one which calls for a more centralised EU and another pushing for the UK to draw away from the union. |
Opponents of closer union "relish the prospect of a unilateral raid on Brussels' powers," he said. | Opponents of closer union "relish the prospect of a unilateral raid on Brussels' powers," he said. |
"The irony is that both options require treaty change: Europhiles and Europhobes are clamouring for the same thing. | "The irony is that both options require treaty change: Europhiles and Europhobes are clamouring for the same thing. |
"As always, neither extreme of the argument is right. Both would have the UK give up our place at the European top table, sacrificing the influence essential to our prosperity. | "As always, neither extreme of the argument is right. Both would have the UK give up our place at the European top table, sacrificing the influence essential to our prosperity. |
"It is only by having a loud voice in a united Europe that we can promote the open economy that will deliver growth. | "It is only by having a loud voice in a united Europe that we can promote the open economy that will deliver growth. |
"Being shoved to the margins, or retreating there voluntarily, would be economic suicide: a surefire way to hurt British businesses and lose jobs." | "Being shoved to the margins, or retreating there voluntarily, would be economic suicide: a surefire way to hurt British businesses and lose jobs." |
'Untold benefits' | |
Mr Clegg said there was "sense" in amending the EU's foundations to ensure eurozone members obeyed strict budgetary rules. | Mr Clegg said there was "sense" in amending the EU's foundations to ensure eurozone members obeyed strict budgetary rules. |
And he roundly rejected the idea that the UK should aim to become the leader of the "outs" - the 10 countries that have not joined the euro. | And he roundly rejected the idea that the UK should aim to become the leader of the "outs" - the 10 countries that have not joined the euro. |
"We spent years fighting to bring down the walls that divided Europe - it would be damaging to let new ones spring up now. | "We spent years fighting to bring down the walls that divided Europe - it would be damaging to let new ones spring up now. |
"From the economy, to climate change, to defence and crime, co-operation between European countries has delivered untold benefits for every single person in the UK. | "From the economy, to climate change, to defence and crime, co-operation between European countries has delivered untold benefits for every single person in the UK. |
"Fracturing the EU would undermine those achievements. It should be avoided at all costs." | "Fracturing the EU would undermine those achievements. It should be avoided at all costs." |
'Depressing' | |
Prime Minister David Cameron told the BBC he "did not accept" suggestions that the UK would not be able to reclaim any powers during the current Parliament. | |
He told BBC One's Andrew Marr show there would be "greater opportunities" to create a "more satisfactory" relationship between the UK and Europe but any steps would have to be approved by both coalition partners. | |
For Labour, shadow chancellor Ed Balls said the two parties should stop squabbling over Europe and focus on the challenges facing the UK economy. | |
"The most depressing thing is there was no plan for jobs and growth as part of the (eurozone) summit discussions," he told Sky News. | |
He reiterated his call for the government to reverse their economic strategy by slowing the pace of spending cuts and cutting VAT to stimulate demand in the economy. |