Letters to the editor
No renegotiation
[Re: Cameron’s decision to call a referendum is absolutely right, yesterday]
There is no guarantee of any referendum, even in the event that David Cameron is re-elected. Francois Hollande is adamant that powers stay at EU level, and he is backed by legal precedent. EU institutions, like the European Council, are also legally bound to work towards an ever-closer union – both economically and politically – so our only choice looks like a straight in/out. The Prime Minister may be returned to power in 2015, but what if the myriad of technical discussions takes forever, and there’s no agreement to hold a referendum over?
Brian Mooney
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Politics of Europe
[Re: Conservative unity on Europe will break open deep Labour fractures, yesterday]
Yes, Labour should and must (if it wants to win power) offer a referendum. But the question is: what sort? David Cameron has suggested a reform-or-out choice. Perhaps there’s space for an alternative. But on the question of Tory unity, Andrew Lilico is over-optimistic. Tory Europhiles have not emerged from the woodwork, and the Lib Dems have mostly been keeping their mouths shut. Both of these groups would put EU conformity over any UK self-interest. We’ve heard an awful lot from Tory Eurosceptics, but the fightback is coming. And it’s coming soon.
David Smuts
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BEST OF TWITTER
Nick Clegg is throwing his toys out of the pram on an EU referendum. The Lib Dems will get a drubbing in 2015.
@benhowlettcf
If the rest of Europe block renegotiation, they should know where Britain would head. Out the EU.
@mgharfalkar
I’m more concerned about David Cameron making wrong claims about the national debt than anything the IMF says.
@philritchie
George Osborne in Davos: “We have a credible and flexible debt reduction plan”. Even as debt goes up.
@labourpress