{"id":20257,"date":"2013-01-13T12:31:28","date_gmt":"2013-01-13T11:31:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/david-cameron-faces-party-battle-over-europe-015346474--finance.html"},"modified":"2013-01-13T12:31:28","modified_gmt":"2013-01-13T11:31:28","slug":"david-cameron-faces-party-battle-over-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/breaking-news\/david-cameron-faces-party-battle-over-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"David Cameron Faces Party Battle Over Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

David Cameron is facing a challenge to hold his party together as battle lines are drawn over Europe.<\/p>\n

With just over a week until the Prime Minister’s key speech on Britain’s relationship with the EU, Tory Europhiles have launched a fight-back against demands for an in-out referendum.<\/p>\n

Cabinet minister Ken Clarke will share a platform with Labour peer Lord Mandelson later this month to stress the benefits of remaining in the union.<\/p>\n

The move comes after fellow Conservative Lord Heseltine warned that the economy would suffer if Mr Cameron took a “punt” and committed to a national poll on membership.<\/p>\n

Around 20 Tory MPs have also apparently signed a letter, due to be published this week, warning of “massive damage” if the UK leaves the EU.<\/p>\n

Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told Sky’s Murnaghan show that he, Mr Cameron and many other MPs were in agreement on the EU’s importance to Britain.<\/p>\n

The Lib Dem said the idea of isolating Britain from Europe was “just mad”. “That would be completely the wrong thing,” he said.<\/p>\n

“In the end it is our national interest, our national interest in terms of our economy and jobs and society\u00a0that has to come first in any approach.”<\/p>\n

Labour leader Ed Miliband\u00a0on Sunday criticised Mr Cameron’s handling of the situation as “incredibly dangerous”, and he ruled out promising a referendum before the future shape of the EU was clear.<\/p>\n

He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “I think he is essentially sleepwalking us towards the exit door of the EU.<\/p>\n

“The last thing we should do is start saying for some date five, six, seven years hence, let’s decide now to have an in-out referendum.”<\/p>\n

Mr Miliband went on: “As Michael Heseltine said very well … that means you are having a referendum on a negotiation that has not yet begun, with a timescale that is uncertain and an outcome that is unknown. That is an incredible gamble.<\/p>\n

“We know why this is happening. (Mr Cameron) is worried about the threat from UKIP and he is worried about what is happening in his own party.”<\/p>\n

Rumours have been circulating that Downing Street has given tacit approval to efforts to highlight the dangers of an exit.<\/p>\n

In an unusual intervention last week, senior US diplomat Philip Gordon openly stated that America wanted Britain to remain in the EU.<\/p>\n

Prominent business figures including Sir Richard Branson have also spoken out about the potentially dire consequences of severing ties.<\/p>\n

Tory backbencher Robert Buckland, who has organised the pro-membership letter, said he had been informed that Number 10 regarded his efforts as “helpful”.<\/p>\n

“There is a silent majority out there who do not want Britain to leave the EU,” he told the Mail on Sunday.<\/p>\n

“The danger for the Tories is that because the right-wing Eurosceptics are making the most noise, we could slide towards the exit door of the EU.”<\/p>\n

According to the Observer, Mr Clarke and Lord Mandelson are spearheading a new organisation, the Centre for British Influence through Europe.<\/p>\n

The group, due to launch at the end of the month, will apparently support a cross-party “patriotic fightback for British leadership in Europe”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\n

David Cameron is facing a challenge to hold his party together as battle lines are drawn over Europe.<\/p>\n

With just over a week until the Prime Minister’s key speech on Britain’s relationship with the EU, Tory Europhiles have launched a fight-back against demands for an in-out referendum.<\/p>\n

Cabinet minister Ken Clarke will share a platform with Labour peer Lord Mandelson later this month to stress the benefits of remaining in the union.<\/p>\n

The move comes after fellow Conservative Lord Heseltine warned that the economy would suffer if Mr Cameron took a “punt” and committed to a national poll on membership.<\/p>\n

Around 20 Tory MPs have also apparently signed a letter, due to be published this week, warning of “massive damage” if the UK leaves the EU.<\/p>\n

Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told Sky’s Murnaghan show that he, Mr Cameron and many other MPs were in agreement on the EU’s importance to Britain.<\/p>\n

The Lib Dem said the idea of isolating Britain from Europe was “just mad”. “That would be completely the wrong thing,” he said.<\/p>\n

“In the end it is our national interest, our national interest in terms of our economy and jobs and society that has to come first in any approach.”<\/p>\n

Labour leader Ed Miliband on Sunday criticised Mr Cameron’s handling of the situation as “incredibly dangerous”, and he ruled out promising a referendum before the future shape of the EU was clear.<\/p>\n

He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “I think he is essentially sleepwalking us towards the exit door of the EU.<\/p>\n

“The last thing we should do is start saying for some date five, six, seven years hence, let’s decide now to have an in-out referendum.”<\/p>\n

Mr Miliband went on: “As Michael Heseltine said very well … that means you are having a referendum on a negotiation that has not yet begun, with a timescale that is uncertain and an outcome that is unknown. That is an incredible gamble.<\/p>\n

“We know why this is happening. (Mr Cameron) is worried about the threat from UKIP and he is worried about what is happening in his own party.”<\/p>\n

Rumours have been circulating that Downing Street has given tacit approval to efforts to highlight the dangers of an exit.<\/p>\n

In an unusual intervention last week, senior US diplomat Philip Gordon openly stated that America wanted Britain to remain in the EU.<\/p>\n

Prominent business figures including Sir Richard Branson have also spoken out about the potentially dire consequences of severing ties.<\/p>\n

Tory backbencher Robert Buckland, who has organised the pro-membership letter, said he had been informed that Number 10 regarded his efforts as “helpful”.<\/p>\n

“There is a silent majority out there who do not want Britain to leave the EU,” he told the Mail on Sunday.<\/p>\n

“The danger for the Tories is that because the right-wing Eurosceptics are making the most noise, we could slide towards the exit door of the EU.”<\/p>\n

According to the Observer, Mr Clarke and Lord Mandelson are spearheading a new organisation, the Centre for British Influence through Europe.<\/p>\n

The group, due to launch at the end of the month, will apparently support a cross-party “patriotic fightback for British leadership in Europe”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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