European Union
UKIP, Pierre Poujade and a political class that’s seen to be “out-of-touch”.
Parliament is a “brothel”. The state is an enterprise of “thieves” engaged in a conspiracy against “the good little people” and the “humble housewife”. Time, then, for a party that… Continue reading
34 Comments
What does Cameron actually want back from Brussels?
If you ask what’s the problem with David Cameron’s European strategy, a cacophony of voices strike up. But it seems to me that most of their complaints are tactical when… Continue reading
37 Comments
Will an EU referendum kill the Scottish independence referendum?
The UK faces two referendums about its future, not one. As well as David Cameron’s promised ‘proper’ referendum on the UK’s relationship with the European Union, there is also the… Continue reading
175 Comments
The euro-elite responds to Nigel Lawson’s ‘dinosaur argument’
I’ve just come from a briefing with a European Union official. He was asked whether Lord Lawson’s call for Britain to leave the EU was a ‘dinosaur argument.’ In response, the… Continue reading
85 Comments
Lord Lawson is wrong that change in the EU is impossible
In its present form, the EU serves British interests very poorly. The time has come for us to finally take matters into our own hands. But I don’t agree with… Continue reading
80 Comments
European debate returns to Tory MP vs Tory MP
One of the inevitable consequences of Lord Lawson’s announcement that he’d vote ‘No’ in an EU referendum is that the ideological divides over Europe in the Tory party are starting… Continue reading
21 Comments
Lord Lawson doubts David Cameron’s EU power
The most damaging element of Lord Lawson’s intervention on Europe in today’s Times is not so much his decision that the facts have changed and that he would vote to… Continue reading
165 Comments
Brendan Simms: A strong, united Europe is in Britain’s interest
Since the collapse of the Byzantine Empire, European history has been dominated by two themes: the centrality of Germany and the primacy of foreign policy. This is the argument of… Continue reading
12 Comments
Did MI6 plot against UKIP?
Dirty tricks against UKIP by the establishment are not a new phenomenon. Though in recent days the Conservative party have been found engaging in them, there are far more striking… Continue reading
47 Comments
Ken Clarke: decent chap, but wrong about everything
Kenneth Clarke has always seemed, to me, a decent sort. By far the most likeable and least lordly and arrogant of those Euro-wanking wets who plagued Thatcher and, later, Major.… Continue reading
58 Comments
Who stands to gain from the Kosovo-Serbia deal? The EU
Britain’s very own EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Cathy Ashton, has not had a terribly good press after a report from the European Parliament said her department… Continue reading
31 Comments
After the bute revelation, what’s the government doing to prevent another horsemeat scandal?
When shadow Defra minister, Mary Creagh, first raised the possibility four months ago that the veterinary drug phenylbutazone – aka bute – might be found in horsemeat in supermarket products… Continue reading
11 Comments
Cameron confident of common ground with Merkel
David Cameron is setting off with his children to visit Angela Merkel on Friday. It’s part of his EU reform mission that started and was thrown off course on Monday… Continue reading
8 Comments
Olli Rehn bosses George Osborne around
Olli Rehn, the European Commissioner who is in charge of economic affairs, called in the Brussels press corps this afternoon to announce the conclusion of his ‘in-depth review of the… Continue reading
50 Comments
David Cameron makes the case for reform in Europe
Germany has elections on the way, Spain is just about holding a lid on its economic crisis while keeping a wary eye on the uphill struggle that its neighbour Portugal… Continue reading
60 Comments
Has the taxpayer received bang for buck from Baroness Ashton?
A great deal of fuss is being made about Baroness Ashton’s retirement salary. She leaves her ludicrous post as High Representative for Foreign Affairs at the European Union next year… Continue reading
33 Comments
Over 100 Tory MPs demand EU referendum bill: exclusive details
Tory backbenchers have written again to the Prime Minister demanding legislation guaranteeing a referendum in the next Parliament. Conservative MP John Baron delivered the letter, which bears more than 100… Continue reading
83 Comments
Momentum grows for EU referendum bill
One other area besides immigration where Tory MPs want their leader to go further than he feels he can is, unsurprisingly, Europe. There is growing pressure within the party for… Continue reading
49 Comments
What will it take to keep Cyprus in the euro?
How will the eurozone respond to the Cypriot parliament’s overwhelming rejection of the bank deposit levy? There are only a few days in which to make a deal before the… Continue reading
69 Comments
Cyprus: This isn’t a tax, it’s a bank raid
You know this levy on Cyprus bank deposits? It’s not a levy. A levy is a kind of tax, and what is happening to the people with bank deposits in… Continue reading
95 Comments