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The Tories will spend our political capital on frivolities. We must stop them.
Posted by Claire Spencer (@thedancingflea)
Monday, 9th November 2009
Speaking to the Fabian Society this weekend, David Miliband described the latest offering from David Cameron on Europe as “either a meaningless or dangerous policy”.
Meaningless because convincing the other EU member states to agree to the proposed changes wouldhave been exceptionally difficult for a Conservative Party in the European People’s Party, and impossible for one in the European Conservatives and Reformists. There is nothing that Britain could offer them that would make the opt-outs promised by David Cameron viable, and we, as a country, would look absolutely foolish in Europe if we pushed for those at the expense of more important issues. They are empty promises to fool the euro-sceptic contingent until after the general election. Ultimately, our parliament is sovereign – European Community law is only enforceable under the European Communities Act 1972 – and if that is not good enough for those who agree with Mr Cameron and his supporters, then let us be frank: the only thing that will be satisfactory is leaving the EU. Why else kick up such a fuss over such a boring treaty – and further, one that actually makes the EU more democratic?
Highlighting inconsistencies in the Tory stance is important, and it has been done better and more extensively elsewhere – but it is not enough. There are plenty among the electorate who agree that we are better off out, and this, at least to some extent, is our fault. We have not made the case for Europe, we should have been doing it better for years, and we are fast running out of time.
So what would you tell someone if you had to make the case for Europe? I’d talk about jobs – the 2.5 million jobs that would not have been created unless borders had been opened up. I’d talk about the money that the EU provides to disadvantaged areas of the UK – in the seven years between 2007 and 2014 it will give £8bn to help tackle poverty, joblessness and poor infrastructure. I’d talk about holidays – when British citizens go on holiday in Europe, they can move freely from country to country, safe in the knowledge that they have access to medical treatment that won’t put them out of pocket, if they need it. If their children want to study in an EU country while at University, enhancing their educations and broadening their horizons, they can. And if they want to take the plunge and move to another EU territory, all they need is a UK passport, a job or other form of income, comprehensive sickness insurance – and they can.
And one thing is for certain – I would talk about these, and the myriad other benefits of EU membership, all the time, I’d brag about them – and I’d be very clear that we were in a good position to make the EU even better, more efficient, more democratic. Because if we want to have any say in how our world is shaped, we are not going to do it as a tiny island which has cut itself off from its neighbours through arrogance, price and avarice.
