PC14: Europe

[Nicholas Eden (LAB)]

If there is one thing Labour don't want you to know about the Rome Negotiations, and therefore one thing it is essential you know, it's that Britain is leading the way in Europe. It's that simple. Along with our friends and allies in the EEC we have created the framework for a more democratic and accountable Europe, with more space for the British economy to thrive in the ERM, and a crucial British opt-out of the single currency which we are pledging to give the British people the final say on via a referendum. Labour don't want to hear this, their boss wants to leave the EEC, their boss wants to drag us back to being the Sick Man of Europe complete with IMF bailout loans. Don't let them drag Britain down under, support Britain leading in Europe, the UN, NATO, and the World, vote Conservative this year.

[William Summer (CON)]

Our position on Europe is simple: we want to position Britain to lead Europe into the next century, we want to build a European community that makes life better for people here at home, and we want to empower you, the British people, to be able to have your say at the ballot box about our country's ultimate relationship with the rest of the continent. To their credit, Labour's is simple as well: blinded by fear for what they don't understand, they're against Europe and they want you to be against it to. They don't know what exactly they're against, they're not totally sure why furthering our role in the EEC is wrong, but they're sure it's not the right for Britain. They are the party of opposition, not of leadership. You deserve better, and that is what this Government is providing.

[Henry Carpenter (CON)]

This isn't a treaty to make Britain lead Europe. This is a treaty that has Britain prostrate at the feet of Europe, abandoning its sovereign powers, its institutions and its democratic heritage, for no gain.
I want Britain to remain a country where the electorate can vote their leaders out, not be ruled from afar by unaccountable figures. I want Britain to remain a country where decision-makers use their power for the betterment of the nation, not for aligning the country with arbitrary Brussels targets. I want Britain to remain a country whose democratic system is admired and replicated the world over, not debased and emasculated.
This treaty is bad for Britain and bad for our position in Europe and the world. We must remain the proud, sovereign, democratic nation we have been for hundreds of years, the envy of the world.

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The idea that Europe is responsible for Britain's economic recovery is a hideous slight against those who actually drove this recovery. The entrepreneurial businessman. The productive manufacturing worker. The reforming policies of a Conservative Government. These were the source of our escape from the doldrums, not Europe.
As damaging as a return to socialism would be, be in no doubt: this treaty shackles Britain to Europe come hell or high water, and leaves us hamstrung there. The treaty gives away powers to Brussels. The treaty removes our veto over some policy areas. And that is every without the disastrous effects of a Single Currency, which I trust the British people will reject if ever asked.
To advance out of our present economic challenges, we need decisions taken in Britain, for Britain, with all our powers at our disposal. To give that all up to Brussels now would be the worst thing we could do.

[William Summer (CON)]

It will come as no surprise that I disagree with Mr. Carpenter's viewpoint, but I respect it and I respect his right to make his voice heard and do so compellingly. The British people deserve to hear robust debate about the leading issues effecting their lives; we are, after all, the world's oldest Parliamentary democracy. But more important that Mr. Carpenter or myself making our views known on the issue of Europe, the people of this country must have the ability to do the same. It is because of this Government, and the opt-out referendum on a single currency that we have successfully negotiated, that every British citizen will be guaranteed the right to vote on our country's future in the EEC. 

That is at the core of why I support the Government's successful negotiated settlement with our friends in the EEC, because it places the British people firmly in charge of determining their destiny. It will be up to them to determine whether or not we adopt a single currency. They will be given the final say. My colleagues and I, including Mr. Carpenter, will have the chance to hash it out in Parliament and on the campaign trail, but ultimately our respective views are less important. What is truly important, the democratic will of the British people, is soon to be guaranteed and enshrined into British law because of the work this Government has done to win an opt-out in the Maastricht Treaty.

[Redgrave]

PC14: Europe
Europe is always a contentious issue and this press cycle is a clear case of respective sides digging their heels in for their respective arguments. 

In this instance, the factions/sides can be divided into:

• Pro-Euro and/or pro-Maastricht Tories (Myerscough, Macmillan, Croft, Fournier-Macleod, Williams, Brigham, Lauria)
  
• Anti-Maastricht Tories (Carpenter)
  
• Pro-Maastricht opposition figures (Cardigan)
  
• Anti-single currency and/or Eurosceptic Labour (McCrimmon, Dawson, Murphy, Brown)
  

The Europhile Tories undoubtedly had the most to say in this debate. In some instances, contributions from certain figures could have been left at a singular contribution rather than multiple ones that did not add anything new to the debate, notably from the Home Secretary and Mr. Brigham. 

However, the twists and turns of the debate were handled fairly well by the Foreign Secretary. Regardless of what opponents may have thought of his views and responses, it cannot be denied that Macmillan was an active and voracious defender of the deal he negotiated, rebutting many aspects from criticism and arguing for its acceptance. It is clear therefore that the majority of his colleagues trust him to lead on this issue. 

The Europhile Tories keep ramming home the message of the government leading in Europe, the opt-out and the chance for a referendum on it and whilst some did this too much, as noted above, the Government’s position was set in the minds of many ordinary people. 

The Tories of course are not united and it’s Carpenter who expresses the dissatisfaction of the Eurosceptics within the party. His lines are rather emotive and you never quite know where he’s going till he finishes, but his messaging resonates with those opposed to further European integration. It makes clear that the Tories do not all sing from the same hymn sheet and he is noted in the media as a leading maverick backbencher in opposition to the deal, with his points about the UK being worse off under Maastricht resonating with sympathetic audiences.

Labour do well to keep hammering home the threat to the British pound and regardless of counter arguments by pro-Euro Tories about an opt-out and referendum, the sovereignty of the pound is still something that resonates with a large section of the British public. In this case, the Shadow Environment Secretary was the most effective voice from Labour. For the most part however, Labour’s messaging here is more tilted towards opposing the Tories than laying out detailed positioning of their own. 

The Liberal Democrats are true to form by endorsing further European integration and consultative democracy. This doesn’t surprise anyone and they are perhaps a beacon of certainty at a time when the other parties are moving away from their traditional European positions. 

As such, this cycle does not award an overall victory for any one party but rather a factional victory in terms of securing or winning support with those voters they’re targeting. 

Therefore, this cycle is a moderate win for the pro-Maastricht Tories in terms of securing support from those voters they’re targeting. However, this is caveated with a note that opposition from the anti-Maastricht Tories and an increasingly Eurosceptic Labour is being listened to from the core voters of the Tory base. 

Traits

• Safe Pair of Hands: Macmillan
  
• Issue Champion: Brown (the pound), Cardigan (consultative democracy)
  
• Maverick: Carpenter 
  
• Media Whore: Croft, Brigham