Will Wheeler force the Tories to talk about Europe?

Simon

Wheeler can spout off all he likes. The Tory Party need to distance themselves from this kind of man.

They should make it clear that money cannot buy policy.

Victoria Street

Peter, is there any evidence that Wheeler has given any money to the party since 2001? Wheeler was one of those who put pressure on IDS in 2003, wheeled out by all and sundry as a 'major Tory donor'. We checked at the time, and he had not given any money under IDS. Do you have any evidence that he has given money since?
Wheeler is a rich old fool who likes the sound of his own voice, but why should his views should be taken seriously by anyone inside or outside the party?

Chris

I'm sure that Gordon Brown prays every day that the Tories start listening to this idiocy. It could be his only hope.

BW

Simon, you are right, money should not buy policy. The problem though is that Wheeler is right about the EU. But yes Cameron must tread a careful path here on both counts.

Steve Green (Daily Referendum Blog).

Utter rubbish. Opposing the Lisbon Treaty was was a popular move with the public and the Conservatives know it.

Only last Friday William Hague was attacking the EU over its accounts. The day before, Timothy Kirkhope MEP sttacked the EU's decision to play the European anthem in the parliament's chamber, and recognise EU symbols and flags at European Parliament buildings across the EU, saying: "This rule change is utterly pointless and sycophantic. MEPs do not understand that these displays of EU nationhood underline the real ambitions of some MEPs to create a European superstate."

In fact there have been four Conservative press releases that have been critical of the EU this month alone.

The Tories cannot be expected to repeat their policy on the EU every half hour.

Keith

As Iain Dale points out, the first part is already Tory policy.

Freeborn John

Stuart Wheeler’s questions are very pertinent. The answer to the 2nd in particular will determine if I vote Conservative in 2010 for the first time in two decades.

David

No. The press will froth for a bit, realise that Cameron isn't taking the bait, and then move on.

Polls suggest that the EU is way down on the list of priorities for people. They aren't clamouring to hear anything on it, particularly at the moment, with the economy going skewiff. It would just look like naval gazing, with the Tories once again focusing on their favourite schism.

Mike, Brighton (in India)

Wheeler is right, but Cameron will be right to ignore him.
I suggest that there are far higher priorities for the incoming Conservative government than a protracted fight over and with Europe.

Peter Baines

We should be making the next election all about Europe - effectively a referendum on it. It's the one issue that resonates with the public. We all know Brown is desperate to scrap the pound and get the Queen off our coins. Perhaps we should remind the public about that more often.

Daniel1979

In my opinion, anyone who is looking to the Conservatives because of mis-management of the economy, because of concerns on Social or legal justice, people who are concerned at Labours hashed "constitutional reforms", or care about underfunding and mistreatment of the armed services (to name a few good examples) will probably not care very much what Mr Wheeler has to say.

But, because of the efforts made by the Conservative in recent years, their 52% favourable rating extend to people who rank other issues as their primary concern. Those people are more likely lending their vote - and the EU is a hotter topic than some Conservative would like. It’s not just the EU, some people are looking to vote Tory because it is assumed they will cut taxes, even though George Osborne have indicated this will not be the case (for example)

Any party that buries it head in the sand and tries to ignore, or not talk about an issue as big as the UK's relationship (in or out) of the EU is doomed.

However, if Mr Wheeler feels he needs to announce an ultimatum prior to a meeting, I would suggest his influence within the party is not a strong as perhaps he would like everyone to think it is. To me, it seems a bit strange trying to force an ultimatum out of a party leader the day after it is announced he has an almost un-assailable lead.

I for one do think that the EU is a very important subject, and I will not be voting for a party that intends, (openly or otherwise,) not to reverse our integration into the EU.

Chris Forte

I'm pretty sure Wheeler's wealth has decreased substantially from what it was a decade ago and therefore wonder if he actually has that much leverage. I certainly can't see him chucking in antoher £5 million like he did when Hague was in charge. Even if he does, cash for policies isn't going to go down well with the voting public.

Peter Davidson

David: There is no Tory schism on Europe and has not been for ages. Ken Clarke & Co. are not a rump. The EU issue will not change your vote, but it will change mine, so why are you objecting to what would almost certainly be a vote-winning policy.

Liz Brown

The EU isn't so far donw my list of priorities - we pay £BILLIONS ito it each and every year - more now than we did before thanks to Toneee Bliar (who he?) giving back ur rebate and also owing to the poor exchange rate. That money could and would be put to better use in the UK. We should have the Referendum we were were
Cleggover and Huhne won't do anything as they have super duper EU pensions and took a binding oath of loyalty to Yurop

Ian C

The EU is a major issue that a Tory Gov't will deal with once and for all if it has any sense. This means ensuring that it is seen by all, but especially Brussells, to have been elected with a mandate from Britain's voters to do so.

Lisbon is just part of what has to be sorted and one man an dhis money, especially one with Wheeler's history of single issue concern, should not influence Cameron and what needs to be done.

Will Rees

To get the EU back up the agenda all it would take is for spin doctors to include which relevant EU directive each government policy decision is in line with. Granted people do care more about the economic meltdown (Labour's squabbles and the coverage it gets seems unworldly) but with the loss of the rebate and the strength of the EUro, UK spending on EUrope is through the roof and that's before the Lisbon agreed spending increases....
I'm not in favour of one man's money influencing policy, but what actually does influence it now? Certainly not manifesto commitments nor it would appear, the result of plebiscites

Ray

Cameron needs to stuff the EU before the EU stuffs both Britain and its future Conservative government - and as it did with both Thatcher and Major.

Keith

@Freeborn John...pop along to Iain Dales blog..He's got better answers than I.

David Lindsay

Cameron never was opposed to the Lisbon Treaty. He was just in favour of a referendum (which, after a month of very biased coverage, might well have delivered a Yes vote), and never said that he would campaign for a No vote. In any case, he always knew that it wouldn't happen. Why did the Telegraph and all the rest fall for this trick?

John

http://www.eureferendum.blogspot.com/

Explains very clearly why the EU is behind all the recent Banking meltdowns.

Cassius

I'm all for keeping the pressure on Cameron over this EU issue; I'm still doubtful about his intentions.

John Page

With the lead he has in the polls, why would Cameron risk stirring up this hornets' nest? He won't, donors are flocking in, he doesn't need Wheeler's money. And Wheeler has nowhere else to go.

David Belchamber

Wheeler's two points should be addressed as they stand without any consideration about a possible donation. I happen to agree completely with both points.

Max Kaye

Daniel1979,

I will happily vote for any party (except Labour, of course) that pledges to "reverse our integration into the EU".

You may be surprised to discover - if you enquire of your fellow countrymen - that many people feel the same way.

I sincerely hope that it will be the Conservative party that secures these votes.

Katherine

Max Kaye: Hear, hear. I too will vote for any party (ex NuLab) that reverses integration. It is a deception for Cameron to pretend this is not a BIG issue for a great number of voters.

Freeborn John

80% of British law is now made in Brussels, but the highest aspiration of some Tories seems to be what Norman Lamont called “being in office but not in power”. What is the point of a Conservative government with the kind of massive majority that 52% support in the country would give if not to solve the fundamental problem of the EU and its corrosive effect on our democracy? Is such a majority really to be used to keep to the current Labour government’s spending targets instead? Stuart Wheeler has it spot on.

Roger Thornhill

The EU is right up there on my priorities as it now dictates our lives in far too many ways such as energy, fishing, agriculture, immigration and is desperate to get its hands round the throat of Sterling.

The Conservatives are still mumble-swerving, even on the Lisbon issue. Get some spine!

Blue Labour

What's the big fuss about the EU? It makes only about three quarters of our laws, including marginal stuff like immigration, trade, rubbish collection, farming, fisheries, HIPs, and the rules that govern how we can help to rescue banks. The Tories are quite right to ignore Wheeler. In Europe but not run by Europe, that's what I say.

Teledu

Europe is a big issue with me. It is disingenious of politicians to say that it isn't a top priority with voters.
True, it is not an "immediate", "in-your-face" issue like tax, inflation, health and education may be. Dealing with those is like dealing with a broken bone or raging toothache - the pain is here and now and so that's what you want fixed first. But the EU is like a cancer; it might not be making you wince with pain right now, but enough people know it is there in the background and will ultimately destroy most of the liberties we hold dear. WE want our politicians to have the stomach for a new referendum on our membership, but there's the sneaking suspicion that most of our political class want to be part of an EU elite political class and to hell with what the people think. Does this description fit Cameron? Sadly, I think it does; I hope I'm proved twrong.

TGF UKIP

As I've frequently posted these Tories and Cameron above all are not to be trusted on Europe, eg the Cameron Central Office gerrymandering to get the europhile MEPs reselected.

Stuart Wheeler obviously realizes this so I trust he is going to stick Dave's hide to the wall good and proper.

Verity

Cassius, Max Kaye, Katherine - Yes, indeed.

I don't trust Cameron. On the surface, he would appear to be as sleazy and duplicitous as Blair. I'd like to be proved wrong, but with his reluctance to commit to any policy on anything, I don't think it's a good bet.

Andrew Smith

Steve Greene tells us 'Timothy Kirkhope MEP sttacked the EU's decision to play the European anthem in the parliament's chamber, and recognise EU symbols and flags at European Parliament buildings across the EU, saying: "This rule change is utterly pointless and sycophantic. MEPs do not understand that these displays of EU nationhood underline the real ambitions of some MEPs to create a European superstate."'

I can see nothing in this contribution from Kirkhope that suggests any Tory hesitancy on the theme of Ever Closer Union. I read it as Kirkhope wishing the continentals would stop frightening the horses; keep quiet until we get elected and we'll give the project another 10 years cover to complete the job so it is irreversible save by parliamentary means.