David Cameron’s European problems seem to be mounting. The usual suspects —
Carswell, Redwood, Jenkin et al — have been only too happy to take the airwaves and talk of this ‘great opportunity’ to repatriate powers. Those sentiments are
growing across the backbenches. The Guardian quotes an ally of Iain Duncan Smith saying that he
and his friends ‘do not accept the prime minister’s argument that the changes will only affect the eurozone. Of course the changes will have an impact on Britain.’
The mounting disquiet appears to have been created, to an extent, by the PM hedging his bets and lowering expectations. Originally, the plan was to repatriate power; but the present aim is to stabilise the eurozone by, essentially, keeping shtum and, above all, not holding a referendum. But masterly inactivity comes at the expense of conviction. Iain Martin expresses the disappointment that many on the right evidently feel with Cameron by writing an excoriating piece titled: ‘Winston Churchill made history, David Cameron never will’.
This morning’s editorials advise Cameron what to do next. The FT urges the PM to ignore his backbenchers: now is not the time to rock the boat and, besides, Britain has few allies in Europe to aid repatriation. The Telegraph says that Cameron must explain where he thinks British interests lie, both to his party and to the country. Downing Street has adopted part of that second course of action: Cameroon aides and strongmen have been touring the tearooms and dropping by MPs’ offices, but that does not ensure their message is welcome.
Perhaps the PM cannot avoid this fight. If so, he will have to rely on those Tories who share his cautious instincts at this moment when, the day after France and Germany reached accord, Standard & Poor’s threaten (£) to downgrade the entire eurozone, with the exception of junk-rated Greece. Those MPs do exist.
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