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| John Major backs David Cameron over referendum on EU membership | John Major backs David Cameron over referendum on EU membership |
| (7 months later) | |
| John Major, the former prime minister ground down by his Eurosceptic rebels, has praised David Cameron's decision to stage a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU, saying it could prove cathartic and end the growing 40-year clamour for the country to leave the union. | John Major, the former prime minister ground down by his Eurosceptic rebels, has praised David Cameron's decision to stage a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU, saying it could prove cathartic and end the growing 40-year clamour for the country to leave the union. |
| He also warned, however, that Cameron's step was a gamble and could yet go wrong, including if he overestimated what can be achieved in renegotiating the UK's terms of membership. | He also warned, however, that Cameron's step was a gamble and could yet go wrong, including if he overestimated what can be achieved in renegotiating the UK's terms of membership. |
| Major's speech was his first response to Cameron's pledge to hold a referendum on renegotiated terms for UK membership in around 2017. | Major's speech was his first response to Cameron's pledge to hold a referendum on renegotiated terms for UK membership in around 2017. |
| Speaking at Chatham House on Thursday, he said: "I don't like referenda in a parliamentary system, but this referendum could heal many old sores and have a cleansing effect on politics. It will be healthy to let the electorate re-endorse our membership, or pull us out altogether. At present, we are drifting towards – and possibly through – the European exit. We need a renegotiation, and a referendum endorsement of it. If this is denied, the clamour for it will only grow." | Speaking at Chatham House on Thursday, he said: "I don't like referenda in a parliamentary system, but this referendum could heal many old sores and have a cleansing effect on politics. It will be healthy to let the electorate re-endorse our membership, or pull us out altogether. At present, we are drifting towards – and possibly through – the European exit. We need a renegotiation, and a referendum endorsement of it. If this is denied, the clamour for it will only grow." |
| Major conceded that the step was a gamble, both for the UK and the Conservative party, but said: "The relationship with Europe has poisoned British politics for too long, distracted parliament from other issues and come close to destroying the Conservative party. It is time to resolve the matter." | Major conceded that the step was a gamble, both for the UK and the Conservative party, but said: "The relationship with Europe has poisoned British politics for too long, distracted parliament from other issues and come close to destroying the Conservative party. It is time to resolve the matter." |
| He also conceded there was unlikely to be any easy meeting of minds between the UK and the rest of the EU over renegotiated terms. | He also conceded there was unlikely to be any easy meeting of minds between the UK and the rest of the EU over renegotiated terms. |
| Major highlighted French anger over sterling's competitive advantage over the euro, adding that Paris would not readily concede the UK opting out of social and employment provisions in order to give the British economy a further competitive boost. | Major highlighted French anger over sterling's competitive advantage over the euro, adding that Paris would not readily concede the UK opting out of social and employment provisions in order to give the British economy a further competitive boost. |
| He urged Cameron to appoint a special envoy to lead the negotiations with Britain's EU partners, warning that the country would fail if it adopted an aggressive bullying attitude. An envoy should be appointed regardless of any Liberal Democrat objections, he said. | He urged Cameron to appoint a special envoy to lead the negotiations with Britain's EU partners, warning that the country would fail if it adopted an aggressive bullying attitude. An envoy should be appointed regardless of any Liberal Democrat objections, he said. |
| Major also underlined the degree to which the Conservative party is beginning to spiral out of control over Europe, saying: "Rebellion is addictive, and some members may be getting a taste for it. I learned 20 years ago that the parliamentary party includes irreconcilables who are prepared to bring down any government or any prime minister in support of their opposition to the EU." | Major also underlined the degree to which the Conservative party is beginning to spiral out of control over Europe, saying: "Rebellion is addictive, and some members may be getting a taste for it. I learned 20 years ago that the parliamentary party includes irreconcilables who are prepared to bring down any government or any prime minister in support of their opposition to the EU." |
| Major, who famously described his own rebels as bastards, said advocates of withdrawal were mistaken if they thought the UK could enhance its relationship with the US or the Commonwealth by leaving the EU, saying such a step would be "to march against history". | Major, who famously described his own rebels as bastards, said advocates of withdrawal were mistaken if they thought the UK could enhance its relationship with the US or the Commonwealth by leaving the EU, saying such a step would be "to march against history". |
| He also urged Cameron not to overestimate what could be achieved in the renegotiation of UK terms. | He also urged Cameron not to overestimate what could be achieved in the renegotiation of UK terms. |
| "The prime minister can probably deliver safeguards for the City, less regulation, less bureaucracy, no more social legislation, enhancement of the single market and more besides. Beyond that, there are many areas ripe for reform, including a full repeal of the working time directive. We should also focus on tackling the democratic deficit and giving muscle to subsidiarity." | "The prime minister can probably deliver safeguards for the City, less regulation, less bureaucracy, no more social legislation, enhancement of the single market and more besides. Beyond that, there are many areas ripe for reform, including a full repeal of the working time directive. We should also focus on tackling the democratic deficit and giving muscle to subsidiarity." |
| Major insisted that a referendum was much more than a piece of party management, and could end 40 years of political squabbling. "It can allow our parliament, undistracted, to put vital issues such as the growing underclass and the disregard into which politics has fallen where they should be – at the very forefront of our national agenda. It can help reform the EU, and for the better," he said. | Major insisted that a referendum was much more than a piece of party management, and could end 40 years of political squabbling. "It can allow our parliament, undistracted, to put vital issues such as the growing underclass and the disregard into which politics has fallen where they should be – at the very forefront of our national agenda. It can help reform the EU, and for the better," he said. |
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