The new faces of Tory euroscepticism

Britain is avowedly eurosceptic. But euroscepticism is not homogeneous; there are different tones of disgust. Many decry further political integration; others oppose Europe’s penchant for protectionism; some are wary of the EU’s apparent collective socialism; a few are essentially pro-European but believe too much sovereignty has been ceded; others hope to redefine Britain’s cultural and political relationship with the Continent, as a bridge between the Old World and the Anglosphere; most see Brussels as an affront to elective democracy; and a handful just want out and vote UKIP.

So it has always been – perhaps one reason why William Hague’s ‘ticking time-bomb’ has not yet exploded.

Time passes and Britain has become more immersed in the European Union. The divisions between Conservative eurosceptics are now more acute. Bill Cash and the other gilded veterans of Maastricht are being superseded by a new breed. Douglas Carswell is famous, the faces of the 2010 intake less so. Europe is to the backbench Tory what shaving is to adolescents; Kwasi Kwarteng, Priti Patel, Jacob Rees-Mogg are proud and voluble critics, impatient to impress. David Cameron once told his party to ‘shut-up about Europe’, but there is talk of Europe coming to dominate this parliament; a means for backbench Tories to shake-off the perncious Lib Dems.

But whilst Kwarteng and his ilk revere Cash (and they really do), they are for leaving and he is not. Therefore, dissent is piecemeal and incoherent. Two amendments to the EU Bill will be tabled tonight. Peter Bone wants an in-out referendum and Bill Cash wants to preserve parliamentary sovereignty. Meanwhile, Paul Goodman has reported on those sceptics who are content with the bill’s current form. Neither amendment will succeed and, once again, eurosceptics will have made noise rather than progress.