Cameron’s ‘catastrophic’ mistake on Europe

This article appeared in Pi Magazine, February 2006.

 

Ken Clarke described David Cameron’s planned withdrawal of the European People’s Party in the European Parliament as a ‘catastrophic’ mistake.  Speaking to UCL students at a Tory Reform Group event the last Conservative Chancellor felt it was a misjudged move and would leave the party aligned with “neo-fascist fringe parties… not the sort of people the Conservatives should be associated with.”

 

Francis Maud, Conservative party Chairman, dismissed Ken Clarke’s comments stating that Cameron’s move is to form “a new centre-right grouping that is more aligned to our approach in Europe.”  Mr. Maud ruled out any partnership with UKIP in the European Parliament and reinstated that William Hague is currently negotiating with a range of political parties.  However, he said this new European party would still “work with the EPP” in Brussels.

 

Tim Yeo, a Tory moderniser who is not on Cameron’s front bench, was less vocal at the TRG about pulling out of the EPP.  But he did say that the “more we engage, the more likely we can influence Europe in the way we want it to be”. 

 

When asked if he felt it was a mistake to isolate the Tory party from the two centre-right parties of France’s UMP and Germany’s CDU – which are part of the EPP and likely to be in power at the time of the next election in Britain – Mr. Yeo stated that “we should be drawing them into the debate rather than cutting ourselves off”.

 

At best David Cameron appears to be embarking on a very ambitious European project, at worst he will leave his party isolated and taint its image at home and in Europe.

 

All three men were extremely positive about Cameron’s leadership so far.  Tim Yeo passionately told students “he’s done very good job indeed, and has an impressive understanding of what the party needs to do to get into power at the next election.” 

 

Whilst the Tory Reformers were all behind David Cameron at the event held in Millbank, there were signs that not all on the Conservative benches were behind him.  “The vast majority of the party are behind him; there is no tolerance of any dissent at all right now” says Yeo.  However, the former Environment minister admits that privately some may have doubts but they are keeping those to themselves.  Yeo believes he will get the benefit of the doubt over the next few months, and that it will be healthy for Mr. Cameron to “face down” and debate with critical party members.