Cameron to tour Europe . .. again!
PM pleads with leaders to back his EU reforms
DAVID Cameron will embark on a whirlwind tour of Europe next month to drum up support for his bid to reform Britain’s relationship with the EU.
Government sources said the Prime Minister plans to visit a string of European capitals in the coming weeks as he makes the case for a new deal for the UK.
Downing Street yesterday denied Mr Cameron planned to stage a ‘ rows’ with other European leaders in the run-up to the in/out referendum, which could come as early as next year.
Former health secretary Andrew Lansley told an audience of business leaders last week that Mr Cameron would ‘choreograph’ a row with French president Francois Hollande in order to persuade voters that he had put up a tough fight in negotiations.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Mr Cameron was f ocused on ‘ building understanding and consensus’ around Britain’s demands.
The spokesman described claims of a staged row as diplo- matic ‘noise’. But she added: ‘We don’t expect these negotiations to be easy. We expect there to be bumps along the road.’
Mr Cameron held one-to-one talks with the 27 other EU leaders ahead of a summit in June when he f i rst tabled his demands. Detailed negotiations are now being conducted by officials behind closed doors.
The issue of Britain’s membership is not due to be discussed again formally by EU leaders until December. But Government sources said Mr Cameron wants to maintain momentum and will be holding one-to- one talks with other leaders in the run-up to the next EU summit in October.
No 10 declined to say where he will visit, but Paris and Berlin are not expected to be included. During his June tour some EU leaders rejected plans to stop benefits for migrants. Downing Street yesterday confirmed that British youngsters may lose the right to claim benefits until the age of 22 in order for Mr Cameron’s welfare proposals to comply with EU law.
WE’RE all well used to the games MPs and spin doctors play in their cynical attempts to manipulate public opinion.
But it is rare indeed for a politician to explain publicly in advance precisely how his team plans to pull the wool over voters’ eyes.
Yet such appear to be the bizarre tactics of former Tory health secretary Andrew Lansley in his efforts to mobilise support for a Yes vote to keep Britain in the EU.
In a speech to businessmen last week, it emerges, the ex-MP frankly admitted that David Cameron would be unable to win ‘revolutionary’ concessions from our partners before the referendum, which he believes will be held in September 2016.
So the Yes camp’s plan, said his speech notes, was first to lower public expectations and then exceed them, while ‘choreographing’ a huge row with the French to give the false impression of a thumping triumph for Britain.
Of course, this strategy will be wearily familiar to millions who have followed successive prime ministers’ claims of victory against EU empire-building. The only surprise is that Mr Lansley admits the deceit so openly.
But what kind of fools do he and his fellow plotters think we are?
Like this paper, voters will decide the best course for Britain after hearing all the arguments and assessing the outcome of Mr Cameron’s talks.
On this of all issues, with its vital implications for our children and grandchildren, we must have a full and scrupulously honest debate.
Any attempts to dupe us – through the dark arts of spin and amateur dramatics, rehearsed with the French – could well blow up in the Yes camp’s face.