Cameron 'negotiating' Cameron's future?

Yes Minister, Series 1, Episode 6: The Right To Know:
Hacker: Humphrey, do you see it as part of your job to help ministers make fools of themselves?
Sir Humphrey: Well, I never met one that needed any help.

It would seem that David Cameron has no need to ask the question of his 'Sir Humphrey' as the fictious reply is all too true when one considers the mess in which Cameron now finds himself on the possibility that a two-speed Europe is now more likely.

Richard North, EU Referendum, has three articles of a 'must read' category, here, here and here, coupled with an article by Iain Martin in the Daily Telegraph - on which Delingpole adds his 'unique' slant - and another from the same source by Janet Daley. Martin makes the point that all Cameron is really interested in is Cameron when he writes that Cameron wants to remain Prime Minister for the next six or seven years. This is underlined when it is reported that Cameron, in a Cabinet meeting, stated that a referendum would tear the Coalition apart and couldn't be countenanced. Janet Daley, with a similar observation, writes that Cameron's dilemma is a much more traditional one that is not unconnected to his personal inclinations and his background. He has discovered the age-old joys of being part of a world power elite: he is now a member of the international diplomatic club whose priorities and etiquette must be respected if one is not to be regarded as a rogue figure. He sees (and Daley is sure he has had it put to him) that Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy are truly desperate to resolve the existential threat to the euro and to the EU itself. She continues that Cameron knows that if he tries to hold them to ransom on Britain's behalf, for what Lord Lamont has described as "some political factor to do with (Britain's) own domestic politics" at this critical historical moment, he will be forever branded an outlaw in European power circles - in other words, echoing Martins assertion that all Cameron is interested in is Cameron.

Whilst Cameron would obviously like to discuss any subject other than that of the European Union and our membership he has been unable to avoid that today, featuring on news reports virtually continuously. He makes much of 'safeguarding', 'protecting' and 'defending and promoting' Britain's interests, yet without actually stating what these are. He makes much play that any agreement affecting just the 17 eurozone member states does not affect the UK, yet a worrying aspect is news of a confidential paper, one which has been circulated to all 27 EU leaders by the EU council president, Herman Van Rompuy, who will chair the summit on Thursday and Friday that states, according to the Guardian, Van Rompuy is discussing the 'potential for harmonising pension reforms, social security systems, labour market policy, and financial regulation". It is difficult to envisage that where 17 member states agree on a certain labour market policy or even budgetary discipline, for example, that they would not want that policy implemented across the board in the name of harmonization and in the interests of the single market. It should also be remembered that whilst any decisions the eurozone members may take now might not affect us, this all changes in 2014 (or possibly in 2017) as the following shows:

 

It is worth, at this point, mentioning the European Union Act 2011, under which the 'conditions/terms' for the holding of a referendum are set out. As with a politician's use of words, so with the use of words in an Act of Parliament. In both cases I am reminded of the passage in Alice in Wonderland where Humpty Dumpty states, in a rather scornful tone, that "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less".

In any event, until the outcome of the EU Heads of State meeting at the end of this week is known, any comment is but 'speculation'. If the method chosen to resolve the 'euro problem' is that of 'treaty change' then perhaps, as Richard North suggests, all Cameron has to do is employ that most effective of French words: 'Non'. Unfortunately, as stated above in respect of what is Cameron's main 'interest', that looks unlikely - even though failure to solve the euro crisis this weekend would surely hasten the end of the euro and thereby the European Union. It is recalled that the Treasury stated (sorry, unable to find the link at the moment) that planning was in hand should the euro/EU fail, then it is surely right that that information should also be made public in order that the electorate have all the relevant information available should, in the unlikely event they were asked, they be able to voice an opinion on the future direction this country takes.

Just a few thoughts.................