European Union
Tory pressure for EU referendum bill grows
David Cameron and Lynton Crosby are holding a meeting with Conservative MPs this week to discuss 2015 strategy, I understand. The party held a similar meeting with Andrew Cooper in… Continue reading
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Germany realises the limits of the EU project
Britain isn’t the only country whose politicians are getting just a little bit jittery about an increase in Bulgarian and Romanian migrants. In this week’s Spectator, Rod Liddle examines the… Continue reading
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What the government must do to prepare for Romanian and Bulgarian migrants
Ministers and MPs are nervous about a mass influx of Romanian and Bulgarian migrants putting the benefit system under strain next year. But ministers should beware, and learn from the political mistakes… Continue reading
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Horsemeat scandal: four key questions
The ongoing horsemeat scandal has opened up a hugely complicated web stretching across the EU, highlighting the difficulty of tracing the origins of the meat on sale in this country.… Continue reading
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Owen Paterson worried by risks of Mexican horsemeat in British food
The horsemeat scandal illustrates just how much of our daily government now takes place in Brussels. Owen Paterson is heading there today, for any real action on this crisis will… Continue reading
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Victorious PM paints himself as Camileo the EU heretic
In his victory address after the successful EU Budget deal this afternoon, David Cameron sought to paint himself once again as a Galileo-style EU heretic who spoke truth to power.… Continue reading
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EU budget victory: What does Cameron do next?
The Haribo they were eating all night clearly worked: European leaders have just agreed on the first budget cut since the EU’s formation. All credit to David Cameron for getting… Continue reading
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Historic EU Budget cut on the cards for Cameron
EU leaders have just left their negotiations over the EU budget for a two hour break and so far it’s looking very, very positive for the Prime Minister. Perhaps David… Continue reading
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Cameron in tight spot as he refuses to budge on EU Budget
David Cameron caused a stir today by walking, yes, walking, into the meeting of European leaders in Brussels to discussed the multiannual financial framework. Other leaders arrived in their cars.… Continue reading
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Bus bomb: It Was Hezbollah
The report of the Bulgarian authorities into the bus-bombing which killed a local bus driver and five Israeli tourists in Burgas last summer has confirmed what so many of us… Continue reading
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How the terms of debate on Europe changed
The website of the new Centre for British Influence through Europe reveals just how far on the back foot the pro-Europeans are. Its introductory article states: ‘It is also wrong… Continue reading
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Briefing: Immigration from Bulgaria and Romania
What’s changing? Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union on 1 January 2007. This gave their citizens the freedom to travel unrestricted within the EU, but countries were allowed to… Continue reading
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The view from Davos: Boris Johnson’s economic adviser on infrastructure
As the speaker for yesterday’s Davos British business leaders’ lunch, Boris Johnson had the audience in his hand in his usual colourful way. I grabbed his very new Chief Economic… Continue reading
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The EU must change
I have been out of the country for a couple of weeks and away from the sweet furore of the internet. I’ll be posting in the coming days on some… Continue reading
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The view from Davos: Cameron’s mad to talk about leaving the EU
‘Cameron’s speech on Europe is badly timed; we must stop this endless European bickering when facing such huge worldwide political challenges’. That’s the view of Neil Selby, the London-based Director… Continue reading
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Cameron & co relieved by Merkel reaction to speech
Angela Merkel’s statement yesterday was a big fillip to David Cameron’s European strategy as it suggested renegotiation was possible. One senior government source called it ‘as good as we could… Continue reading
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David Cameron’s Europe speech: The Spectator’s verdict
Just for Coffee House readers, here is a sneak preview of the leading article from this week’s Spectator. Download our iPad and iPhone app to read the rest of the… Continue reading
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Breaking: Cameron postpones Europe speech
David Cameron has postponed his speech on the European Union because of the hostage situation in Algeria where a standoff has been taking place in a gas plant in the… Continue reading
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Fresh Start’s EU powers threat could focus the mind
It is always an understatement to say that David Cameron can’t possibly satisfy his party with his Europe speech this week: the reason being that there is no one unified… Continue reading
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No 10 has intensive work ahead to prevent Tory criticism drowning out Cameron’s EU speech
The date of David Cameron’s Europe speech has been moved yet again. But this time it has been pulled forward, to this Friday. Downing Street realised that they weren’t going… Continue reading
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