David Cameron’s speech and letter on EU reform have gone down as you might expect with Eurosceptics: they hated them. MPs and campaigners think the Prime Minister should be pushing for bigger reforms and the renegotiation is looking like a sham. Some have concluded the Prime Minister has spent the past six months traveling around Europe, asking what others find acceptable and his rhetoric today is based on what he can achieve — on red tape and competitiveness for example — instead of what is best for Britain.
One Eurosceptic Conservative MP says there is disappointment across the party:
‘The Prime Minister’s letter and speech were very disappointing and weak. A strong negotiating position is not being used. Backbench and some frontbench MPs are unimpressed.’
Another Tory MP notes the ‘vocal objections’ are from the ‘usual suspects’ but also suggests there is room to widen the scope of the renegotiations:
‘Many front and backbenchers see the letter as the starting point for negotiations and the scope will hopefully expand as discussions progress and EU nations respond.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in