Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, has launched a full-frontal attack on Conservative Eurosceptics within the coalition, describing their aims as "economic suicide" and ruling out a "headfirst" charge towards a repatriation of powers from Europe.
In a direct challenge to Tories calling for a redrawing of the UK's relationship with Europe, the Liberal Democrat leader dismisses calls for a raid on Brussels' powers as a futile distraction. Writing for the Observer, Clegg mocks those who believe this country would survive outside of Europe based on the so-called "special relationship" with America. "Eurosceptics tend to gaze longingly across the Atlantic, but the Americans are interested in us, in large part, because of our sway with our neighbours," he writes. "We stand tall in Washington because we stand tall in Brussels, Paris and Berlin."
Sources close to Clegg also dismissed claims by David Cameron over the weekend that the Foreign Office was reviewing every aspect of Britain's membership of the European Union in preparation for a potential treaty change coming out of the eurozone crisis.
The official told the Observer: "This would be to misunderstand what the coalition agreement says." Instead Clegg writes that Britain would avoid opening the "Pandora's box" that comes with "tampering with the EU's founding texts", and describes talk of such moves as "dangerous distractions".
The deputy prime minister's forthright intervention makes it clear that Britain's relationship with Europe could yet prove to be the most dangerous faultline within the coalition. It comes after a torrid week in parliament in which the eurozone crisis has led to renewed calls from the Eurosceptic wing of the Conservative party for a partial or total withdrawal from the European Union. Last Monday, 81 Conservative MPs defied a three-line whip to vote against the government and for a referendum on EU membership. » | Daniel Boffey | Saturday, October 29, 2011
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Nick Clegg warns David Cameron of 'economic suicide' over EU policy: Nick Clegg has set himself on a collision course with David Cameron over EU policy after warning that it would be "economic suicide" for Britain to "retreat to the margins" of Europe. » | Josie Ensor and Patrick Hennessy, Political Editor | Sunday, October 30, 2011
