This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/19/david-cameron-eu-picking-pockets
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| David Cameron tells EU to stop 'picking pockets' of its citizens | David Cameron tells EU to stop 'picking pockets' of its citizens |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| David Cameron has told the European commission it should stop "picking the pockets" of European citizens as it seeks to push through an above-inflation increase in the EU budget. | David Cameron has told the European commission it should stop "picking the pockets" of European citizens as it seeks to push through an above-inflation increase in the EU budget. |
| As he prepares for a crucial European summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, the prime minister said pressing for budgetary restraint in such a difficult economic climate made him a good European. | As he prepares for a crucial European summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, the prime minister said pressing for budgetary restraint in such a difficult economic climate made him a good European. |
| But Cameron was given a taste of the divisions within the Conservative party when the pro-European Kenneth Clarke confirmed he had sought an assurance from the prime minister that he did not intend to leave the EU. | But Cameron was given a taste of the divisions within the Conservative party when the pro-European Kenneth Clarke confirmed he had sought an assurance from the prime minister that he did not intend to leave the EU. |
| The former chancellor told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4: "David Cameron assures the public, he has always assured me, that he believes, as I do, that Britain's place in the modern world has got to be in the EU." | The former chancellor told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4: "David Cameron assures the public, he has always assured me, that he believes, as I do, that Britain's place in the modern world has got to be in the EU." |
| Clarke, who warned it would be a "disaster" for Britain to leave the EU, spoke shortly before the former shadow home secretary, David Davis, said that "radical, out-of-Europe options" were becoming more attractive. | Clarke, who warned it would be a "disaster" for Britain to leave the EU, spoke shortly before the former shadow home secretary, David Davis, said that "radical, out-of-Europe options" were becoming more attractive. |
| Davis said the prospect of British withdrawal should concentrate the minds of EU partners under his plans for two referendums – one to agree a negotiating mandate in which Britain would opt out of key EU laws, and a second to approve a deal negotiated with the rest of the EU. | Davis said the prospect of British withdrawal should concentrate the minds of EU partners under his plans for two referendums – one to agree a negotiating mandate in which Britain would opt out of key EU laws, and a second to approve a deal negotiated with the rest of the EU. |
| The prime minister did not dwell in detail on his own plans to repatriate powers from the EU after 2015. In his remarks on the EU during his speech to the CBI annual conference in London, Cameron instead focused on this week's budget negotiations in which Britain will be demanding an inflation freeze. | The prime minister did not dwell in detail on his own plans to repatriate powers from the EU after 2015. In his remarks on the EU during his speech to the CBI annual conference in London, Cameron instead focused on this week's budget negotiations in which Britain will be demanding an inflation freeze. |
| He said: "I don't think it makes you a bad European because you want a tough budget settlement in Europe. I think it makes you a good European. | He said: "I don't think it makes you a bad European because you want a tough budget settlement in Europe. I think it makes you a good European. |
| "I think I have got the people of Europe on my side in arguing that we should stop picking their pockets and spending more and more money through the EU budget, particularly when so many parts of the European budget are not well spent. One of the interesting things about the proposals so far in this debate about the EU budget is how little attention there has been on the central costs of the EU, the commission budget, what people get paid." | "I think I have got the people of Europe on my side in arguing that we should stop picking their pockets and spending more and more money through the EU budget, particularly when so many parts of the European budget are not well spent. One of the interesting things about the proposals so far in this debate about the EU budget is how little attention there has been on the central costs of the EU, the commission budget, what people get paid." |
| But Davis showed that many Tory MPs, who voted in favour of a below-inflation cut in the budget, have their eyes on an immediate recasting of Britain's relations with the EU as he set out his plans for a double referendum. | But Davis showed that many Tory MPs, who voted in favour of a below-inflation cut in the budget, have their eyes on an immediate recasting of Britain's relations with the EU as he set out his plans for a double referendum. |
| The former Europe minister said: "One of my colleagues described this idea to me as a Ukip-killer. That is not the purpose of the strategy, but it will give the Conservative party a proper platform to fight that European election [in 2014]. To make this work we have also to be clear what our position would be if the European Union did not deliver a package that appealed to the British people." | The former Europe minister said: "One of my colleagues described this idea to me as a Ukip-killer. That is not the purpose of the strategy, but it will give the Conservative party a proper platform to fight that European election [in 2014]. To make this work we have also to be clear what our position would be if the European Union did not deliver a package that appealed to the British people." |
| Davis added: "Paradoxically, the fact that the radical, out-of-Europe options are growing more attractive as the years pass, means that the deal that we can strike with Europe is likely to be much stronger. Tony Blair recently called for a "grand bargain" to save the eurozone. But as ever his words were not backed by serious plans. Now is the time for big action, not just big rhetoric." | Davis added: "Paradoxically, the fact that the radical, out-of-Europe options are growing more attractive as the years pass, means that the deal that we can strike with Europe is likely to be much stronger. Tony Blair recently called for a "grand bargain" to save the eurozone. But as ever his words were not backed by serious plans. Now is the time for big action, not just big rhetoric." |
| Clarke believes Davis's plans are unrealistic and designed to provoke a reaction from Britain's EU partners that could see Britain forced out of the EU. | Clarke believes Davis's plans are unrealistic and designed to provoke a reaction from Britain's EU partners that could see Britain forced out of the EU. |
| Speaking on the Today programme a few hours before Davis's speech, Clarke said: "It would be a disaster for our influence in global political events, it would be a disaster for the British economy if we were to leave the European Union. It damages our influence in these great critical events at the moment if we keep casting doubt on our continued membership." | Speaking on the Today programme a few hours before Davis's speech, Clarke said: "It would be a disaster for our influence in global political events, it would be a disaster for the British economy if we were to leave the European Union. It damages our influence in these great critical events at the moment if we keep casting doubt on our continued membership." |
| In his speech, Miliband warned that the prime minister was in danger of forcing the UK out of the EU by accident. He said: "Many of our traditional allies in Europe clearly think Britain is heading to the exit door. Those of us, like me, who passionately believe that Britain is stronger in the EU cannot be silent in a situation like this. I will not allow our country to sleepwalk towards exit because it would be a betrayal of our national interest." | In his speech, Miliband warned that the prime minister was in danger of forcing the UK out of the EU by accident. He said: "Many of our traditional allies in Europe clearly think Britain is heading to the exit door. Those of us, like me, who passionately believe that Britain is stronger in the EU cannot be silent in a situation like this. I will not allow our country to sleepwalk towards exit because it would be a betrayal of our national interest." |
| But the Labour leader said the EU must reform as he acknowledged that Eurosceptics have often been right in their criticisms of the EU. He said pro-Europeans too often "turned a blind eye" to the EU's failings and that Britain needed to build alliances to achieve reform. | But the Labour leader said the EU must reform as he acknowledged that Eurosceptics have often been right in their criticisms of the EU. He said pro-Europeans too often "turned a blind eye" to the EU's failings and that Britain needed to build alliances to achieve reform. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |