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David Cameron accused of allowing ministers to campaign for EU exit David Cameron accused of allowing ministers to campaign for EU exit
(about 1 hour later)
The prime minister has refused to confirm or deny claims that he has given cabinet colleagues freedom to campaign for Britain to exit the European Union in a future referendum.The prime minister has refused to confirm or deny claims that he has given cabinet colleagues freedom to campaign for Britain to exit the European Union in a future referendum.
The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, used the weekly prime minister's questions to challenge the PM over reports that he would drop the usual requirement for "collective responsibility" around the cabinet table. The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, used the weekly prime minister's questions to challenge David Cameron over reports that he would drop the usual requirement for "collective responsibility" around the cabinet table.
"When it comes to Europe it's the same old Tories: a divided party and a weak prime minister," said Miliband."When it comes to Europe it's the same old Tories: a divided party and a weak prime minister," said Miliband.
In reply, David Cameron twice avoided answering the question, instead accusing Labour of avoiding the "issue" of Europe's changing powers and the UK's relationship with the EU. "If you want to take back powers from Europe you vote Conservative; if you want to give away powers to Europe you vote Labour," he said. In reply, Cameron twice avoided answering the question, instead accusing Labour of avoiding the "issue" of Europe's changing powers and the UK's relationship with the EU. "If you want to take back powers from Europe you vote Conservative; if you want to give away powers to Europe you vote Labour," he said.
Just two days before the prime minister's much-awaited speech on plans to renegotiate the UK membership of Europe and put it to a referendum, probably in 2018, the subject dominated the half-hour session, accounting for all six of the Labour leader's questions.Just two days before the prime minister's much-awaited speech on plans to renegotiate the UK membership of Europe and put it to a referendum, probably in 2018, the subject dominated the half-hour session, accounting for all six of the Labour leader's questions.
Asked if Britain would be "in Europe" in five years' time, Cameron reiterated his support for membership, but could not go any further on behalf of his strongly Eurosceptic party. "My view is Britain is better in the EU, but it's right for us to see the changes taking place in Europe and make sure we're arguing for the changes that Britain needs to see. Therefore we have a better relationship between Britain and Europe, we have a better organised EU and we have the full-hearted [support] of the British people."Asked if Britain would be "in Europe" in five years' time, Cameron reiterated his support for membership, but could not go any further on behalf of his strongly Eurosceptic party. "My view is Britain is better in the EU, but it's right for us to see the changes taking place in Europe and make sure we're arguing for the changes that Britain needs to see. Therefore we have a better relationship between Britain and Europe, we have a better organised EU and we have the full-hearted [support] of the British people."
Miliband also poked fun at the PM for the decision of the foreign secretary, William Hague, to fly to Australia and New Zealand this week on official business "to get as far away from the prime minister's speech as possible". Hague had previously said there should not be an in-out referendum on Europe because it would cause "additional economic uncertainty in this country at a difficult economic time", pointed out Miliband. Miliband also poked fun at Cameron for the decision of the foreign secretary, William Hague, to fly to Australia and New Zealand this week on official business "to get as far away from the prime minister's speech as possible". Hague had previously said there should not be an in-out referendum on Europe because it would cause "additional economic uncertainty in this country at a difficult economic time", pointed out Miliband.
"He [Hague] is perfectly right," replied Cameron. "I don't think it would be right for Britain to have an in-out referendum because we would be giving people a false choice. Millions of people, like myself, want Britain to stay inside the EU, but they believe there are chances to negotiate a better relationship. Throughout Europe countries are looking at forthcoming treaty change and thinking: 'What can I do to maximise my national interest?' That is what the Germans will do, that is what the Spanish will do, that is what the British should do.""He [Hague] is perfectly right," replied Cameron. "I don't think it would be right for Britain to have an in-out referendum because we would be giving people a false choice. Millions of people, like myself, want Britain to stay inside the EU, but they believe there are chances to negotiate a better relationship. Throughout Europe countries are looking at forthcoming treaty change and thinking: 'What can I do to maximise my national interest?' That is what the Germans will do, that is what the Spanish will do, that is what the British should do."
In a sign of the trouble ahead for the PM over the following years, from both his own backbenches and the opposition, at least three further questions from MPs challenged him directly on whether he would keep or opt out of specific European regulations.In a sign of the trouble ahead for the PM over the following years, from both his own backbenches and the opposition, at least three further questions from MPs challenged him directly on whether he would keep or opt out of specific European regulations.
The most controversial was from Labour's Robert Flello, who claimed 39 paedophiles had been brought back to Britain as a result of the European arrest warrant, and demanded that Cameron rule out opting out of that or risk letting "paedophiles" get off. "We have the opportunity to work out which of the home affairs part of the EU we want to opt out of and which we want to opt into: that will be discussed by this house and I'm sure they will listen to his arguments," said Cameron.The most controversial was from Labour's Robert Flello, who claimed 39 paedophiles had been brought back to Britain as a result of the European arrest warrant, and demanded that Cameron rule out opting out of that or risk letting "paedophiles" get off. "We have the opportunity to work out which of the home affairs part of the EU we want to opt out of and which we want to opt into: that will be discussed by this house and I'm sure they will listen to his arguments," said Cameron.