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Ed Miliband: Britain 'sleepwalking' into EU exit Ed Miliband: Britain 'sleepwalking' into EU exit
(about 9 hours later)
Britain is "sleepwalking" into leaving the EU, which would undermine the UK's economy and leave it "voiceless and powerless," Ed Miliband will say.Britain is "sleepwalking" into leaving the EU, which would undermine the UK's economy and leave it "voiceless and powerless," Ed Miliband will say.
The Labour leader will also tell business leaders pro-Europeans can no longer turn a "blind eye" to the EU's failings. Labour's leader will also tell business chiefs that pro-Europeans cannot turn a "blind eye" to the EU's failings.
A new approach should be based on "building alliances for change," he will tell the CBI conference.A new approach should be based on "building alliances for change," he will tell the CBI conference.
Prime Minister David Cameron is due to take part in EU budget talks this week. But government minister Ken Clarke stressed that David Cameron believed Britain's "place" was in the EU.
Mr Cameron is also facing pressure within his own party on Europe. Tory MP David Davis will make a speech later calling for a referendum that would allow the government to forge a new, looser relationship with Brussels. The prime minister, who is due to take part in EU budget talks this week, is also facing pressure within his own party on Europe.
On the EU budget, in October Labour MPs joined Tory rebels to defeat the government on its strategy to push for a freeze, wanting Mr Cameron to push for a real-terms cut between 2014 and 2020. Tory MP David Davis will make a speech later calling for a referendum that would allow the government to forge a new, looser relationship with Brussels.
The prime minister has insisted a real-terms freeze is more realistic, but he has threatened to use the UK's veto if the rise proposed by the European Commission is not drastically reduced. Last month, Labour MPs joined Tory rebels to defeat the government on its strategy to push for a freeze in the EU budget, instead pushing for a real-terms cut between 2014 and 2020.
'Cannot be silent' The prime minister insists that a freeze is more realistic, but he has threatened to use the UK's veto if the rise proposed by the European Commission is not drastically reduced.
Labour's decision to vote for an EU budget cut was seen as evidence that the party is repositioning itself on Europe towards a more eurosceptic position, but Mr Miliband will say he "passionately believes that Britain is stronger in the European Union". 'Scepticism'
He will warn the UK faces a "very dangerous moment" in its relationship with Europe and David Cameron, who has previously faced pressure from his own MPs to back an in/out referendum after the next election, is not working in the national interest. Labour's decision to vote for an EU budget cut was seen as evidence that the party is repositioning itself on Europe towards a more Eurosceptic position, but Mr Miliband will say he "passionately believes that Britain is stronger in the European Union".
Mr Miliband will tell the CBI conference: "For more than three decades, our membership of the European Union has seemed to be a settled question. Not any more. Public scepticism about European union has been on the rise for some time. He will warn the UK faces a "very dangerous moment" in its relationship with Europe and Mr Cameron, who has previously faced pressure from his own MPs to back an in/out referendum after the next election, is not working in the national interest.
Mr Miliband will tell the CBI conference: "For more than three decades our membership of the European Union has seemed to be a settled question. Not any more. Public scepticism about European union has been on the rise for some time.
"Some cabinet ministers in this government now openly say that we would be better off outside the EU."Some cabinet ministers in this government now openly say that we would be better off outside the EU.
"And many of our traditional allies in Europe clearly think that Britain is heading to the exit door."And many of our traditional allies in Europe clearly think that Britain is heading to the exit door.
"Those of us, like me, who passionately believe that Britain is stronger in the European Union cannot be silent in a situation like this."Those of us, like me, who passionately believe that Britain is stronger in the European Union cannot be silent in a situation like this.
"I will not allow our country to sleepwalk toward exit because it would be a betrayal of our national interest.""I will not allow our country to sleepwalk toward exit because it would be a betrayal of our national interest."
Mr Miliband is expected to stress the importance of being part of the single market for British business, who do 60% of their trade with EU members.Mr Miliband is expected to stress the importance of being part of the single market for British business, who do 60% of their trade with EU members.
"If we left the EU it would be the United States, China, the European Union in the negotiating room - and Britain in the overflow room."If we left the EU it would be the United States, China, the European Union in the negotiating room - and Britain in the overflow room.
"We would end up competing on low-wages and low-skills: an off-shore low-value economy, a race to the bottom," he will say."We would end up competing on low-wages and low-skills: an off-shore low-value economy, a race to the bottom," he will say.
'Article of faith' 'Disaster'
The Labour leader will argue the case for the EU is not served by ignoring the institution's failings.The Labour leader will argue the case for the EU is not served by ignoring the institution's failings.
"Too many have turned a blind eye to these failings, believing their understandable real passion for the case for Britain being in Europe should mean a passionate defence of the institutions of the European Union."Too many have turned a blind eye to these failings, believing their understandable real passion for the case for Britain being in Europe should mean a passionate defence of the institutions of the European Union.
"The answer is not just to make the same old case for the European Union more loudly. We need to argue the case in a new way, not simply assume it as an article of faith.""The answer is not just to make the same old case for the European Union more loudly. We need to argue the case in a new way, not simply assume it as an article of faith."
Instead, he will argue for a new approach based on "building alliances" with like-minded countries.Instead, he will argue for a new approach based on "building alliances" with like-minded countries.
A plan for jobs and growth, reforming the EU budget, completing the single market and changing EU rules on competition should form the basis of these alliances, he will say.A plan for jobs and growth, reforming the EU budget, completing the single market and changing EU rules on competition should form the basis of these alliances, he will say.
"Reforming the European Union will be difficult, it will require building alliances, and it will have its frustrations. But Ken Clarke, the minister without portfolio, accused Mr Miliband of acting "opportunistically", by voting with "extreme Eurosceptics" against the government over the EU budget.
"But I am certain it is better than leaving: for business, for jobs, for wealth creation." He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the prime minister believed that "Britain's place in the modern world has got to be in the European Union. It would be a disaster for the British economy if we were to leave the European Union.
"It damages our influence if we keep casting doubt on our membership."
Mr Clarke, one of the most pro-European of Conservative MPs, added: "I wish Ed would come down finally on one side or the other."