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| David Cameron speech: UK and the EU | |
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| A group of Conservative backbench MPs is to publish a report calling for a substantial return of powers to the UK from the European Union. | A group of Conservative backbench MPs is to publish a report calling for a substantial return of powers to the UK from the European Union. |
| Fresh Start, which says it is backed by more than 100 Tory MPs, wants the UK to remain in the union, but with "significant revisions" to treaties. | Fresh Start, which says it is backed by more than 100 Tory MPs, wants the UK to remain in the union, but with "significant revisions" to treaties. |
| Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed the report. | Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed the report. |
| Its publication comes ahead of Prime Minister David Cameron's long-awaited speech on the UK and Europe on Friday. | Its publication comes ahead of Prime Minister David Cameron's long-awaited speech on the UK and Europe on Friday. |
| In his address in the Netherlands, Mr Cameron is expected to support a loosening of the UK's relationship with the EU, to be endorsed by a referendum. | In his address in the Netherlands, Mr Cameron is expected to support a loosening of the UK's relationship with the EU, to be endorsed by a referendum. |
| However, Ken Clarke, a veteran pro-European, who attends the cabinet as a minister without portfolio, told the Financial Times that any referendum would be a "gamble" that could lead to the UK leaving the union. | However, Ken Clarke, a veteran pro-European, who attends the cabinet as a minister without portfolio, told the Financial Times that any referendum would be a "gamble" that could lead to the UK leaving the union. |
| "I think if Britain ever does leave the European Union, it will be difficult to adjust to our loss of a leading role in the political evolution of Europe and our reduced role in the global political world," he said. | "I think if Britain ever does leave the European Union, it will be difficult to adjust to our loss of a leading role in the political evolution of Europe and our reduced role in the global political world," he said. |
| BBC political correspondent Chris Mason says the breadth of contributions to the debate on the UK's relationship with the EU is a striking indication of the anticipation surrounding Mr Cameron's speech. | BBC political correspondent Chris Mason says the breadth of contributions to the debate on the UK's relationship with the EU is a striking indication of the anticipation surrounding Mr Cameron's speech. |
| He said Fresh Start - founded by George Eustice, Andrea Leadsom and Chris Heaton-Harris - aimed to provide a range of ideas for a prime minister attempting to strike a new deal at a time when he says the European Union is changing. | He said Fresh Start - founded by George Eustice, Andrea Leadsom and Chris Heaton-Harris - aimed to provide a range of ideas for a prime minister attempting to strike a new deal at a time when he says the European Union is changing. |
| Launching its "manifesto for change", the group will demand the repatriation of key powers in order to retain the UK's "national democratic accountability". | Launching its "manifesto for change", the group will demand the repatriation of key powers in order to retain the UK's "national democratic accountability". |
| 'Fine line' | 'Fine line' |
| It will insist on "significant revisions" to EU treaties, arguing for the return of control over all social and employment law, including the working time directive, which it will highlight as a burden on the UK. | It will insist on "significant revisions" to EU treaties, arguing for the return of control over all social and employment law, including the working time directive, which it will highlight as a burden on the UK. |
| "In our manifesto we are very carefully treading a fine line between calling for things that are just going to be a non-starter, where the rest of Europe will say 'just forget it', and choosing those topics that are really important to Britain, that would really be a game-changer for Britain's relationship with the EU," Mrs Leadsom told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "In our manifesto we are very carefully treading a fine line between calling for things that are just going to be a non-starter, where the rest of Europe will say 'just forget it', and choosing those topics that are really important to Britain, that would really be a game-changer for Britain's relationship with the EU," Mrs Leadsom told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| "Certainly, from my conversations with European politicians over the last few months, when we actually get down to the nitty gritty of what is it that Britain wants, they don't think it's all utterly impossible." | "Certainly, from my conversations with European politicians over the last few months, when we actually get down to the nitty gritty of what is it that Britain wants, they don't think it's all utterly impossible." |
| She added: "I guess if you were to say our priority is 'more trade and less of the other stuff' that's true." | She added: "I guess if you were to say our priority is 'more trade and less of the other stuff' that's true." |
| However, other Conservatives - including Mr Clarke - have urged Mr Cameron to be cautious. | However, other Conservatives - including Mr Clarke - have urged Mr Cameron to be cautious. |
| And Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has warned it would be "unwise" to create "a prolonged period of uncertainty" over Britain's relationship with Europe. | And Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has warned it would be "unwise" to create "a prolonged period of uncertainty" over Britain's relationship with Europe. |
| 'Sidelines' | 'Sidelines' |
| Speaking to the Guardian, Britain's former ambassador in Washington, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, said a move away from Europe, or leaving entirely, would diminish the UK's international clout. | Speaking to the Guardian, Britain's former ambassador in Washington, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, said a move away from Europe, or leaving entirely, would diminish the UK's international clout. |
| He said recent warnings by the US administration urging Britain against staging a distracting referendum was "a conscious decision by the Obama administration to intervene in the UK debate". | He said recent warnings by the US administration urging Britain against staging a distracting referendum was "a conscious decision by the Obama administration to intervene in the UK debate". |
| Sir Nigel, who is a member of the think tank Business for New Europe, added: "If Britain is active and influential in Washington, that makes us more influential in Brussels, Delhi and elsewhere. | Sir Nigel, who is a member of the think tank Business for New Europe, added: "If Britain is active and influential in Washington, that makes us more influential in Brussels, Delhi and elsewhere. |
| "I just cannot see any logical basis for thinking a move to the sidelines, or particularly a move out of Europe, would be anything other than diminishing to the UK's capacity, standing, influence, ability to get things done and capacity to build coalitions internationally." | "I just cannot see any logical basis for thinking a move to the sidelines, or particularly a move out of Europe, would be anything other than diminishing to the UK's capacity, standing, influence, ability to get things done and capacity to build coalitions internationally." |
| 'Proper debate' | 'Proper debate' |
| The prime minister has faced pressure to hold a referendum on Europe and has been criticised by some in his own party for not doing more to get powers back from the EU to the UK. | The prime minister has faced pressure to hold a referendum on Europe and has been criticised by some in his own party for not doing more to get powers back from the EU to the UK. |
| The leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage said that while European politicians were suggesting "everything was rosy in the EU's garden", there was a "proper debate" about the UK's future within the union. | The leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage said that while European politicians were suggesting "everything was rosy in the EU's garden", there was a "proper debate" about the UK's future within the union. |
| While Mr Cameron may get some "concessions", in calling for a renegotiation of powers the prime minister was trying to "deflect" attention from the real issue of the UK's membership and delay a referendum for five years. | While Mr Cameron may get some "concessions", in calling for a renegotiation of powers the prime minister was trying to "deflect" attention from the real issue of the UK's membership and delay a referendum for five years. |
| "The longer this all goes on, the more likely the UK is to leave the European Union," he told the European Parliament. | "The longer this all goes on, the more likely the UK is to leave the European Union," he told the European Parliament. |
| Labour has described Mr Cameron's European policy as a "shambles" and said the UK is at risk of "sleepwalking to the exit door". | Labour has described Mr Cameron's European policy as a "shambles" and said the UK is at risk of "sleepwalking to the exit door". |