We said that it's dangerous whenever the UK's man Cameron gets amongst the Eurofolk amongst whom he would dearly love to feel at home,- one of the gang. Maybe it's because ex Etonians aren't used to being excluded from exclusive groups, but once near them he does seem to get excessively "I'm really one of you, one of the top table too" . He positively radiates puppyish excitement in the presence of Hollande (where did he come from all of a sudden?) , Merkels and even Barrosso. Heaven help us all.
The result was that he returned home in the early hours of Friday in a sort of "Peace in our time" mode, but aware that might not go down too well with a hundred or so of his MPs or even growing numbers of the electorate who feel that the principles of democracy warrant at least being asked about the future of their country or whether they still want to have one or in reality just be a county or province of Greater Europe. It is after all a rather fundamental question especially as it far from certain that all of Britain's potential future rulers are great Anglophiles or even like us at all. We may have bailed out a good number of them in the past century or so and fought several others but neither group appears to actually love us. No wonder something makes Dave and others excluded. Some, Nick , for example don't want to be excluded for a minute longer, whatever the illiberal cost ( it's amazing how illiberal most Liberals are when faced with anything but their own warm, fuzzy "hello sky, hello flowers " point of view.) and are prepared to go sign up to any internationalist pan-anything.
What we have seen and heard since Dave's return therefore is meant to be a sop to the Eurosceptics and those who would like to be asked what they think. He says we do need some changes to the EU relationship though how deep and far reaching is left for another time, and yes, there may be a day when we are better informed and more to be trusted to give the right answer in a referendum of some sort, but we aren't ready and adult enough to be asked just yet. Sorry children but your leaders just can't let you self harm.
Well intended though it is , this isn't going to satisfy or even kid anyone. Worse, it doesn't sound like the words of a tough leader prepared to fight to the death for what the vast majority wants (Superstate , no, Free trade Area ,- yes) at the expense of losing his place at the top table or in the prefects room of the European Academy. Worse for the Cameron and the Conservatives ot opens the way for the politically well organised Miliband to simply promise a referendum and after that all he can do is visibly play catchup. Just as Osborne was wrong footed by Balls urging the delay/dropping of the fuel tax rise the day before he announced it, the Tories will again have allowed Labour to proclaim "We said it first" if Dave does later match the promise,- as he would have to.
Again, the Tory machine is caught flying blind with its radar simply not identifying what lies before it and what opportunities each statement or action opens up or closes down for its opponents. Ther should be some final warnings and P45s floating around in Tory headquarters.
Footnote: Also conspicuous in Labour's Alexanders' criticism of Dave's non announcement was again the closing word "Shambles". As we noted before ,there has long been consistent dogwhistle word or one liner in almost anything any Labour speaker says about anything. It's very clever, lethal even and the Tories have no counter measure .
The result was that he returned home in the early hours of Friday in a sort of "Peace in our time" mode, but aware that might not go down too well with a hundred or so of his MPs or even growing numbers of the electorate who feel that the principles of democracy warrant at least being asked about the future of their country or whether they still want to have one or in reality just be a county or province of Greater Europe. It is after all a rather fundamental question especially as it far from certain that all of Britain's potential future rulers are great Anglophiles or even like us at all. We may have bailed out a good number of them in the past century or so and fought several others but neither group appears to actually love us. No wonder something makes Dave and others excluded. Some, Nick , for example don't want to be excluded for a minute longer, whatever the illiberal cost ( it's amazing how illiberal most Liberals are when faced with anything but their own warm, fuzzy "hello sky, hello flowers " point of view.) and are prepared to go sign up to any internationalist pan-anything.
What we have seen and heard since Dave's return therefore is meant to be a sop to the Eurosceptics and those who would like to be asked what they think. He says we do need some changes to the EU relationship though how deep and far reaching is left for another time, and yes, there may be a day when we are better informed and more to be trusted to give the right answer in a referendum of some sort, but we aren't ready and adult enough to be asked just yet. Sorry children but your leaders just can't let you self harm.
Well intended though it is , this isn't going to satisfy or even kid anyone. Worse, it doesn't sound like the words of a tough leader prepared to fight to the death for what the vast majority wants (Superstate , no, Free trade Area ,- yes) at the expense of losing his place at the top table or in the prefects room of the European Academy. Worse for the Cameron and the Conservatives ot opens the way for the politically well organised Miliband to simply promise a referendum and after that all he can do is visibly play catchup. Just as Osborne was wrong footed by Balls urging the delay/dropping of the fuel tax rise the day before he announced it, the Tories will again have allowed Labour to proclaim "We said it first" if Dave does later match the promise,- as he would have to.
Again, the Tory machine is caught flying blind with its radar simply not identifying what lies before it and what opportunities each statement or action opens up or closes down for its opponents. Ther should be some final warnings and P45s floating around in Tory headquarters.
Footnote: Also conspicuous in Labour's Alexanders' criticism of Dave's non announcement was again the closing word "Shambles". As we noted before ,there has long been consistent dogwhistle word or one liner in almost anything any Labour speaker says about anything. It's very clever, lethal even and the Tories have no counter measure .
