British prime minister David Cameron has said the UK needs to stay in the European Union under reformed membership rules, warning Eurosceptic Conservatives there was “no use hiding away from the world”.
Speaking to business leaders in Essex, Mr Cameron insisted Britain must look outwards, and said the country had to fight its corner at the EU table by being “unashamedly bold and hard-headed”.
Mr Cameron attempted a careful balancing act, acknowledging voters’ concerns about immigration and excessive EU regulation, while urging them not to heed the “get out of the EU” stand of the UK Independence Party and its ilk – though he did not name that party.
“There are those who say we should turn our backs on the world and on our wider obligations, that we should cut ourselves off from influential organisations in the belief that we can go it alone,” he said.
National timidity
Too often, the British had been faced with two "wrong- headed approaches", where they were urged to reject the modern world or unquestionably embrace globalisation.
He said these two approaches amounted to “different kinds of national timidity . . . either too wary to engage with the world, or too afraid to stand up for our national interests”. He said that if Britain was to succeed, “it’s no use hiding away from the world – we’ve got to roll our sleeves up and compete in it.”
Mr Cameron has promised voters an in-out referendum in late 2017 on a renegotiated deal, though both Eurosceptic Conservative MPs and EU allies express doubts about his ability to win meaningful concessions.
Vision for EU
The UK wanted "a competitive, unbureaucratic and dynamic" EU with its 500 million-strong market. "The EU is a way off that goal yet. But I say: let's try and realise that vision for all our sakes," he said.
His remarks will anger some of his backbenchers who tried recently to get legislation guaranteeing a referendum passed by the House of Commons – which was never going to happen because of opposition from Liberal Democrats.
However, he may take some comfort from a report by the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, issued today, which warns that the changes the UK seeks must be of use to every EU state, not just the UK. Proposals couched in such a fashion “are likely to find a more favourable reception than possible requests for further ‘special treatment’ for the UK”, said the MPs, arguing that “tone, language and approach” will be important to maintain the UK’s influence.
