Mr Redwood’s contribution to the Statement on the European Council, 22 October

Mr John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con): I warmly welcome the Prime Minister’s wish to have a new settlement with the European Union and encourage him to negotiate just that. Is not our veto over a six-year budget perspective for which the others want a huge expansion of spending the opportunity to negotiate that new settlement?

The Prime Minister (Mr David Cameron): The point about the European budget is that we need to maximise our negotiation leverage on that specific issue, as we are part of this union and we want it to have a sustainable budget. As I wrote in the letter of 18 December 2010,

“payment appropriations should increase, at most, by no more than inflation over the next financial perspectives”—[ Interruption. ]

The shadow Chancellor asks from a sedentary position what our leverage is, and it is very simple. The decision must be agreed by unanimity. Tony Blair, when he sat in that seat, gave up our rebate without any need, but we will not do that.

3 Comments

  1. Geoff M
    October 24, 2012

    which the others want a huge expansion of spending the opportunity to negotiate that new settlement?

    Now, would it not be nice if Dave replied ” but first the EUSSR accounts have to be signed off and then we will negotiate on behalf of the people of Great Britain”!

    That would hack orf the collegues-what.

  2. Barbara Stevens
    October 24, 2012

    I can understand Mr Cameron’s answer, but he still insists that we as a country wish to remain within this Union, we don’t. Has for its costs, which are going up and up, spending is out of hand, and no budget as been signed off for years. How can any country allow it’s self to be more drawn into such an arrangement? They will not negociate, they will not concede on any part of our membership, so how will Mr C proceed when faced with such deallock? He will have little left to offer his party or himself or indeed the country, but advise removal from this expensive club.
    Merkel, again, is saying no meeting will take place if Mr C insists on using his veto, this is some kind of light blackmail, and is not on. Mr C must be able to do has he seems fit without threats and talk of cancelling meetings. If he is asked not to use his veto then he should refuse point blank to agree to such a thing.
    It appears with the ‘vote for prisoners’ coming to a head we may see more squabbles with the court of human rights, what with our disagreement within the EU as a whole, is it not time this country made the decision whether we continue with this European arrangement and settle it once and for all, and not let it be left to politicans?

  3. David Langley
    October 25, 2012

    What is wrong with Camerons mind? What is the secret threat that makes his pronouncements to us about the EU seem weird and unsatisfactory? What is it he sees that I dont? How can paying ourselves £17 Billion a year to promote all the things that the EU gives us and still have £10 Billion to use that would otherwise be frittered away on non UK projects be a bad idea? Why does he still think that we can get into a negotiating position by offering to whine about budget increases? Negotiate what exactly, try to get into a negotiating position through threats.
    We cant bully the EU project its a monster, and grown too big to frighten or negotiate with. Its rules of procedure and its objectives are 100% opposite to ours. We have the means to stop our membership and reconsider our position. Cameron seems like others before him that being nice and supportive will impress, sorry mate you are wrong.

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