Europhile campaign adopts sceptic positions
Jonathan Lindsell, 15 July 2013
It’s all rather confusing. Two weeks ago, I wrote about the launch of a new Europhile campaign, ‘Our Biggest Market’. It was supported by the Europhile organisations ‘Business for New Europe’ and ‘British Influence’, whose memberships seem identical. Supporters included Danny Alexander, Lord Mandelson and Vince Cable.
Imagine my surprise, then, to learn that a completely separate Europhile campaign is to be launched today. It too will operate under the auspices of British Influence, and it is supported by the same Westminster clique, with the added glitter of Ken Clarke. The newest campaign’s title is a hodgepodge of all previous titles: Better off in a better Europe.
The substance of the campaign, though, is notably sceptic. Perhaps after so many failed launches, the Europhile camp’s strategy is to echo everything more central or sceptic groups argue, then quietly add ‘but vote to stay in’ at the end of each paragraph. Peter Wilding describes the new manifesto’s stance as the ‘radical centre’, which includes ground-breaking ideas such as:
– “We believe the era of ever closer union is over…it should be recognised by EU leaders that the time of an ‘ever closer union’ in every possible policy area lies in the past”
– “Economic and political reform is vital… A number of [policy] areas should better be left to member states rather than the EU”
– “Here in Britain, Parliament should be far more effective in holding the Council of Ministers and the other institutions of the EU to account by seriously improving the scrutiny of EU legislation as well as communicating this to the people.”
– The EU must become ‘leaner and meaner”, and must “focus only on essential tasks and not be diverted, do better in getting value from its budget and eliminate fraud and be more transparent with its decision-making processes, which often appear opaque and distant from voters”
– Britain must ‘ensure the EU continues to take reform seriously’
– ‘At some point Treaty change will also be inevitable’
Their most sensible manifesto line is that Britain should cultivate allies to try to reform the EU for the benefit of all member states, rather than fight for UK opt outs and rebates: ‘By creating alliances with those who share our belief in boosting growth and jobs, we can actively reboot the EU for the 21st century.‘
This makes diplomatic sense. Luckily Cameron espoused this view in his ‘Bloomberg speech’ back in January, and the Eurosceptic camp has been putting words in action, for example working with the Dutch, limiting the budget, softening the Financial Transaction Tax and reforming the fisheries policy.
How nice that both sides are in agreement.