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David Cameron's policy on Europe came under pressure today after an intervention from Tory grandee Lord Heseltine.
The former Deputy Prime Minister reportedly told a private meeting that Mr Cameron's strongly Eurosceptic stance was damaging to British interests. Lord Heseltine criticised the decision to form a Eurosceptic group with eastern European fringe parties in the European Parliament and predicted that Mr Cameron would be forced to carry out a U-turn soon after the general election.
His remarks follow heavy hints from close ally Kenneth Clarke, the shadow business secretary, that he would support the Lisbon Treaty in any referendum, in defiance to Mr Cameron's opposition to it.
Mr Clarke has also criticised the decision to leave the federalist European People's Party, a large and powerful group in Europe whose avowed federalism offended some right-wingers.
This year, Mr Cameron negotiated the launch of a new alliance with fringe parties which are accused of anti-Semitism and homophobia.
Concern that a Tory government could be out of step with European powerbrokers has been raised in the United States, whose traditional policy is to press Britain to integrate more closely with the EU.
Reader views (16)
I well remember a MEP complaining to me that he could not have a decent career in the European Parliament if he had to worry about the electorate the whole time. I doubt that many MPs and MEPs really care about what the electorate want so long as they can get elected. look at all the lies Blair told. The sad thing is that too many people believed him.
- William, London
The more that Eu enthusuasts like Heseltine, (I will never forgive him for knifing Thatcher in the back)and Clarke say about the wonders of the EU, the more I am convinced that Cameron should NOT be the next prime Minister.
Nigel Farage is a great speaker and is anti-Eu.
So, that is whom hopefully, most conservatives will vote for. Not the so-called conservative/Tories.
Never thought I would say that in my lifetime.
- C.A.Apicella, nyc, usa
It is common knowledge that David Cameron only agreed to leave the EPP group in order to gain the support of the eurosceptics in the Conservative party. Had he not done so, David Davies would have been a shoo in for Tory leader. As soon as the Tories are in No 10, David Cameron will revert to type. He will shed his eurosceptic mantle and at some stage will rejoin the EPP group to ensure he is part of the decision-making process as the UK has always been in the past. He knows that by maintaining the status quo, and sitting on the fringes, his will be a voice in the wilderness. Nobody will listen to him because he has nothing of any interest to say.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
Of course Heseltine doesn't believe in democracy, neither does Brown or else they would give us a referendum on the EU, (and on other matters too, like immigration).
For Cameron to have Clarke in his Cabinet belies what he has said about the EU, i.e it is not what Cameron says, but DOES, that matters, and so far there is nothing to convince me that he is genuine.
- Ralph, London
Britain should be leading within Europe and we should join the Euro as soon as practically possible.
- Notabanker, London UK
So will you ask the British people that question or just go ahead and do it ?
- Grim Reaper, Hell
The man's a EU supporter. He has always been an EU supporter. He sees the issue through an EU supporter's perspective.
Why is anyone surprised that he believes it should go through?
It's all down to whether DC has the gumption to do what the voters want rather than take the easy road and just go with the flow. THAT'S the question, not whether someone like Heseltine has changed his long established position.
- Rogan, Irving
Mr Heseltine is right! Whoever wins the next election should act in Britain's best interests . That will have to be as part of the EU and people who suggest otherwise are living in Cloud Cuckoo Land . At the moment we are the laggard nation of Europe . Britain should be leading within Europe and we should join the Euro as soon as practically possible.
- Notabanker, London UK
Wonder if Cameron will have noted 20th April in his diary so he can send a birthday card to the party he is aligned with in europe that celebrates Hitlers birthday?
Looks like the old Tory old guard is coming back to life perhaps that will need to form a CDP on the lines of the SDP?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
John Major joined the ERM and signbed the Maastricht Treaty despite heading a so-called Euro-sceptic Tory Government. A Referendum like Osborne's tough line over Bankers Bonuses will be kicked into the long grass once they are safely elected.
- D Dare, Kenton England
Cameron, in my view, is sufficiently cute to kick Europe into the long grass prior to the General Election, but watch this space for what happens after Brown and his crew of halfwits, chancers and charlatans have been demolished.
- Ted, London
Cameron has no clue what he is saying or doing
- Chrys, LONDON
Isn't it up to the people of a territory to decide if they want that territory (i) to remain sovereign, i.e. a country, OR (ii) to become a part, i.e. a province, of a new bigger country? If the word 'democracy' means anything at all, I would have thought the answer to that to be an obvious YES. Weaseling politicians seem to be trying to hide from the British people that you can't have 'a country within a country'. Either the U.K. is a country or it's a province of a bigger country; it can't be both. Heseltine and Clarke are just saying that the Emperor has no clothes. I hope they keep giving out the message. If so, more and more Brits will realize that they can't have it both ways. They can't stay nationals of a sovereign U.K. and at the same time expect benefits that come from their country becoming a province of the European Union under the E.U. Constitution (misnamed a treaty -- Lisbon Treaty to cover up its true colours).
- Phil Jones, London UK
"Concern that a Tory government could be out of step with European powerbrokers has been raised in the United States, whose traditional policy is to PRESS Britain to integrate more closely with the EU."
I guess that you have previously wondered if the Americans are really running the UK as another of their outreached States, the statement lends weight to that suspicion.
Remember the Americans see the word as a smorgasbord of commercial opportunity of reconstruction and development of trade. One only has to look at the 'lend lease' commercialism of WW2 where 50 rotting and scrap ships were sold to the UK to' help with the war effort' to understand the motives of the USA.
No the question that you should be asking yourselves is 'would further integration with Europe be better for America of better for the UK?' Certainly the UK has been regulated beyond what is reasonable, the UK no longer has any manufacturing industry to speak of and nearly all utilities are owned by Europe. We have no gold reserves and have to fight Frankfurt to keep a banking service in the UK.
We are however forced to provide a landing platform for Americans to sell their goods into Europe as well as provide poodle services in any American instigated skirmish that will result in reconstruction contracts going to USA industries.
Another question then is 'Will Cameron buckle to bullying by the USA and support them in preference to the UK population' Blair did, it is likely that Cameron will
- James, City of London
M.H. aka Tarzan.
Yesterdays man living in yesterdays world.
- Andrew, Ely UK
I am disgusted that this Treaty is being steamrollered through by the European elite against what would appear to be the wishes of the electorate in many countries. These people are supposed to represent us not their own self serving points of view. I understand that the government have said that the Treaty is too complicated for we laypeople to understand yet they it seems cannot understand a simple expenses claim form! Or are they too morally bankrupt to care about either issue.
- Peter Bryant, Truro, Cornwall
Funny how politicians of all ages seem not to believe in democracy, makes you wonder how long we've been living under this illusion.
- Wilky, london
