EPP Pledge

Mikeuk · 19-01-2006, 08:17 AM

Euro troubles

One of David Cameron's pledges during the Tory leadership election was to pull the party's MEPs out of the federalist European People's Party (EPP) in Brussels. As soon as he was elected, Cameron put the matter in the hands of shadow foreign secretary William Hague.

However, the time Hague is taking with negotiations has given Europhile Tories opposed to the move the opportunity to build up resistance to it - and I learn that a meeting taking place next week will act as a focus for this.

"Hans-Gert Pöttering, the leader of the EPP, is coming to London on Wednesday to address a lunch for Conservative Mainstream, the Left-leaning Tory faction," I'm told. "It will only serve to whip up more opposition to the position adopted by David, who must now regret prolonging the row by his own hesitation."

(Daily Telegraph)

John Page · 19-01-2006, 08:49 AM

An oddly ill informed piece, I thought, since Cameron has threatened to deselect any MEPs who won't leave the EPP (don't hold your breath), and Pottering was quoted yesterday as saying that the EPP accepts the situation.

19-01-2006, 08:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mikeuk Uber Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Fareham Posts: 5,737 Party: Conservatives	EPP Pledge - Cameron drags his heels. Euro troubles One of David Cameron's pledges during the Tory leadership election was to pull the party's MEPs out of the federalist European People's Party (EPP) in Brussels. As soon as he was elected, Cameron put the matter in the hands of shadow foreign secretary William Hague. However, the time Hague is taking with negotiations has given Europhile Tories opposed to the move the opportunity to build up resistance to it - and I learn that a meeting taking place next week will act as a focus for this. "Hans-Gert Pöttering, the leader of the EPP, is coming to London on Wednesday to address a lunch for Conservative Mainstream, the Left-leaning Tory faction," I'm told. "It will only serve to whip up more opposition to the position adopted by David, who must now regret prolonging the row by his own hesitation." (Daily Telegraph)

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19-01-2006, 08:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
John Page Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Welwyn Hatfield (Herts.) Posts: 1,878	An oddly ill informed piece, I thought, since Cameron has threatened to deselect any MEPs who won't leave the EPP (don't hold your breath), and Pottering was quoted yesterday as saying that the EPP accepts the situation.