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Tory party out of control over Europe, says Lord Howe Tory party out of control over Europe, says Lord Howe
(4 months later)
Lord Howe, the former Conservative chancellor who triggered the downfall of Margaret Thatcher, has launched a scathing attack on the prime minister, accusing him of running scared of his backbenchers and endangering Britain's future in Europe.Lord Howe, the former Conservative chancellor who triggered the downfall of Margaret Thatcher, has launched a scathing attack on the prime minister, accusing him of running scared of his backbenchers and endangering Britain's future in Europe.
The Tory grandee says David Cameron has opened a Pandora's box by opposing the current terms of the UK's membership of the European Union and now appears to be losing control of his party. The prime minister's actions, Howe writes in the Observer, have turned an internal Tory problem into a national one.The Tory grandee says David Cameron has opened a Pandora's box by opposing the current terms of the UK's membership of the European Union and now appears to be losing control of his party. The prime minister's actions, Howe writes in the Observer, have turned an internal Tory problem into a national one.
In a highly significant intervention over Britain's future, Howe laments the "new, almost farcical" level of debate over Europe in the Tory party, and says that Labour and the Liberal Democrats may need to bear the burden of retrieving the situation. Howe, Thatcher's longest-serving cabinet minister, whose resignation speech in 1990 is widely considered to have precipitated the then prime minister's downfall, writes: "Sadly, by making it clear in January that he opposes the current terms of UK membership of the EU, the prime minister has opened a Pandora's box politically and seems to be losing control of his party in the process.In a highly significant intervention over Britain's future, Howe laments the "new, almost farcical" level of debate over Europe in the Tory party, and says that Labour and the Liberal Democrats may need to bear the burden of retrieving the situation. Howe, Thatcher's longest-serving cabinet minister, whose resignation speech in 1990 is widely considered to have precipitated the then prime minister's downfall, writes: "Sadly, by making it clear in January that he opposes the current terms of UK membership of the EU, the prime minister has opened a Pandora's box politically and seems to be losing control of his party in the process.
"The ratchet-effect of Euroscepticism has now gone so far that the Conservative leadership is in effect running scared of its own backbenchers, let alone Ukip, having allowed deep anti-Europeanism to infect the very soul of the party.""The ratchet-effect of Euroscepticism has now gone so far that the Conservative leadership is in effect running scared of its own backbenchers, let alone Ukip, having allowed deep anti-Europeanism to infect the very soul of the party."
Howe, who was also a former foreign secretary and deputy prime minister under the late Baroness Thatcher, adds that the events of recent days, in which the prime minister has been forced to offer more and more to satisfy his Eurosceptic MPs, were "more like the politics of the French Fourth Republic than the serious practice of government".Howe, who was also a former foreign secretary and deputy prime minister under the late Baroness Thatcher, adds that the events of recent days, in which the prime minister has been forced to offer more and more to satisfy his Eurosceptic MPs, were "more like the politics of the French Fourth Republic than the serious practice of government".
Citing the intervention of President Obama, who last week championed reform of the EU over Britain's exit, Howe laments: "The Conservative party now needs a US president to tell it what it once had the confidence to proclaim as common sense itself."Citing the intervention of President Obama, who last week championed reform of the EU over Britain's exit, Howe laments: "The Conservative party now needs a US president to tell it what it once had the confidence to proclaim as common sense itself."
Howe's savage attack on the prime minister's leadership and the actions of his party follows the successful attempt by Eurosceptic backbenchers to bounce the prime minister into the publication last week of a draft referendum bill on EU membership.Howe's savage attack on the prime minister's leadership and the actions of his party follows the successful attempt by Eurosceptic backbenchers to bounce the prime minister into the publication last week of a draft referendum bill on EU membership.
Cameron had already been forced in January, against his stated will, to promise an in-out referendum before 2017, but the prime minister's backbenchers have since been demanding further assurances in the form of legislation. Eurosceptic Tory backbenchers have been energised by Ukip's success in the recent local elections, and a huge rise in national polls.Cameron had already been forced in January, against his stated will, to promise an in-out referendum before 2017, but the prime minister's backbenchers have since been demanding further assurances in the form of legislation. Eurosceptic Tory backbenchers have been energised by Ukip's success in the recent local elections, and a huge rise in national polls.
A new Opinium/Observer poll has Ukip attracting 20% of the vote, with Labour on 37%, the Conservatives on 27% and the Liberal Democrats down to 7%.A new Opinium/Observer poll has Ukip attracting 20% of the vote, with Labour on 37%, the Conservatives on 27% and the Liberal Democrats down to 7%.
Howe states that the risk for the Conservative party, as Europe rises ever further up its internal agenda, is that it loses the next general election and moves to a position of "simply opposing Britain's continued membership, with or without a referendum".Howe states that the risk for the Conservative party, as Europe rises ever further up its internal agenda, is that it loses the next general election and moves to a position of "simply opposing Britain's continued membership, with or without a referendum".
In stark contrast to the view of his friend and former cabinet colleague Lord Lawson, who wrote recently that Britain should leave the EU, Howe believes that the UK is unlikely to hold anything like the position of power to which it aspires without the vehicle of the EU, unless the country was to join the United States. "Leaving the union would, by contrast in my view, be a tragic expression of our shrinking influence and role in the world – and the humbling of our ambitions, already sorely tested by the current crisis, to remain a serious political or economic player on the global stage."In stark contrast to the view of his friend and former cabinet colleague Lord Lawson, who wrote recently that Britain should leave the EU, Howe believes that the UK is unlikely to hold anything like the position of power to which it aspires without the vehicle of the EU, unless the country was to join the United States. "Leaving the union would, by contrast in my view, be a tragic expression of our shrinking influence and role in the world – and the humbling of our ambitions, already sorely tested by the current crisis, to remain a serious political or economic player on the global stage."
Describing a withdrawal from the European Union as a "very dangerous choice indeed", the peer says Britons have hugely benefited from greater competition, lower prices and wider choice, due to membership of the EU.Describing a withdrawal from the European Union as a "very dangerous choice indeed", the peer says Britons have hugely benefited from greater competition, lower prices and wider choice, due to membership of the EU.
Howe adds that much of the UK's inward investment depends on easy access to the £11 trillion EU economy. He writes: "Does anyone think that the UK's revival as a motor car manufacturing nation is based on the appeal of the British market alone to foreign investors?"Howe adds that much of the UK's inward investment depends on easy access to the £11 trillion EU economy. He writes: "Does anyone think that the UK's revival as a motor car manufacturing nation is based on the appeal of the British market alone to foreign investors?"
In a withering assessment of his party's long-standing preoccupation with Brussels, he adds: "This week has shown that the Conservative party's long nervous breakdown over Europe continues, and what is essentially a Tory problem is now, once again, becoming a national problem, too."In a withering assessment of his party's long-standing preoccupation with Brussels, he adds: "This week has shown that the Conservative party's long nervous breakdown over Europe continues, and what is essentially a Tory problem is now, once again, becoming a national problem, too."
He continues: "A number of serious mistakes have been made but the situation is not irretrievable. What is needed is a mixture of clear thinking, strong leadership and an overriding concern for the national interest – not party management or advantage.He continues: "A number of serious mistakes have been made but the situation is not irretrievable. What is needed is a mixture of clear thinking, strong leadership and an overriding concern for the national interest – not party management or advantage.
"If the Conservative party is losing its head, a heavy responsibility now rests with Labour and the Liberal Democrats.""If the Conservative party is losing its head, a heavy responsibility now rests with Labour and the Liberal Democrats."
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