EU is past its sell- by date, insists Lawson
PRIME Minister David Cameron will fail in his attempt to reform the “past its sell- by date” EU, a senior Tory peer predicted yesterday.
Former Chancellor Lord Lawson intervened in the debate over the forthcoming in- out referendum to claim that EU membership was “economically damaging” to Britain.
He spoke out after confirming that he will lead a Tory campaign for the UK to cut ties with Brussels.
His remarks were last night being seen as an indication that a growing number of Tory Eurosceptics have lost patience with the Prime Minister’s attempt to negotiate a better EU deal for Britain.
Lord Lawson said it was “highly unlikely” that any significant reforms would be secured.
He told BBC Radio 4’ s Today programme: “I would like to see a profoundly reformed European Union with reforms embedded by genuine treaty change but it has been made quite clear by everybody in positions of responsibility in the European Union that that’s not going to happen.”
Lord Lawson, who is to become president of the Con- servatives for Britain group, described the EU as an “entirely political venture” that had “no economic benefit at all” for Britain.
“Indeed, economically it is damaging us,” said the peer, who was chancellor under former Tory prime minister Margaret Thatcher.
He added: “I am not antiEuropean. I am speaking from my home in France. The problem is not Europe; the problem is the European Union. The European Union is way past its sell- by date.”
Lord Lawson also fuelled tension within Eurosceptic ranks by insisting that he would not share a platform with representatives of Leave. EU, another anti- Brussels pressure group.
Leave. EU, set up by Ukip donor Arron Banks, last night described Lord Lawson as a “has- been” and urged him to “shut up”.
A statement from the group said: “He’s leading a campaign that is run by the ‘ Westminster bubble’ from SW1. When are these politicians going to learn that this campaign cannot be won from SW1? It has to appeal to the people, not the small clique of Eurosceptic Tories.
“It would be better if the Eurosceptic Tories just shut up as they are going to alienate the vast majority of people who will look at this campaign as a Tory stich- up.
“The Leave. EU campaign is about the people of Great Britain which includes Labour, Lib Dems, Ukip, Tories and anyone else who believes we should vote to leave the EU at the next referendum.
“If the Tories keep using has- beens like Lord Lawson and the other Eurosceptic rabble then that will turn off supporters.
“So get back in your box Nigel and let the people support a people’s campaign not an SW1 bubble brigade.”
Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: “Whilst I welcome Lord Lawson in his new role as head of Conservatives for Britain which will apparently be campaigning for Britain to leave the EU, there are a few issues we must make clear.
“Whilst winning support from Westminster figures is important, this referendum cannot be won in Westminster but out across the country.
“The ‘ leave’ campaign must reach across the spectrum to everyone.”
LORD LAWSON has said that he will lead a Conservative campaign to get Britain out of the EU. He is absolutely right to say that the doomed union is “passed its sell- by date” and that it is “highly unlikely” that David Cameron will be able to secure any significant reforms.
His involvement is a major coup for the campaign to leave. As a former chancellor he is a senior figure within the Tory Party. His views carry great weight among both Conservatives and the electorate.
Not everybody campaigning for a British exit will welcome his involvement. However Eurosceptics cannot afford to waste time fighting among themselves. While the individuals who make up the campaign may disagree on many issues one thing they should all agree on is the importance of winning the referendum.
Achieving this objective is the only thing that matters.