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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. |
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. |
But government minister Ken Clarke stressed that David Cameron believed Britain's "place" was in the EU. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
'Scepticism' | |
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". | |
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. |
'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. |
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. | |
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." |