CAMERON'S BATTLE OVER EUROPE
'The thin gruel has been further watered down': Furious Tory MPs blast Cameron in Commons over his draft deal with Brussels
David Cameron, pictured today presenting the offer at the
despatch box, insisted he had secured the 'strongest ever' package to
cut abuse of free movement. He told MPs when the deal is finalised,
Britain has a pathway to a 'fresh settlement' with the EU. But the
complex series of papers published in Brussels yesterday was derided by
many Tory MPs as Jacob Rees-Mogg, inset top right, reprised his claim Mr
Cameron was offering 'gruel' to the voters. Veteran eurosceptic Bernard
Jenkin, inset top left, said claims the deal was 'legally binding'
because it will be deposited at the UN were 'male bovine excrement',
while Boris Johnson quizzed the PM on issues of sovereignty. But leaving
the Commons after more than two hours of MPs' questions, Mr Cameron
appeared at ease having faced down his critics and won praise from
backers of the EU.
Furious Tory MPs claim 'the thin gruel has been further watered down' as they blast the Prime Minister's draft deal with Brussels
- Jacob Rees-Mogg said Cameron had only two weeks to rescue reputation
- Bernard Jenkin said the deal was no more than 'male bovine excrement'
- The PM made his case in the Commons today but faced hard questioning
- See more news on David Cameron at www.dailymail.co.uk/pm
David
Cameron presented the offer at the despatch box, insisting he had
secured the 'strongest ever' package to cut abuse of free movement and
telling MPs when the deal is finalised, Britain has a pathway to a
'fresh settlement' with the EU.
But
the complex series of papers published in Brussels yesterday was
derided by many backbench Tory MPs as Jacob Rees-Mogg reprised his claim
Mr Cameron was offering 'gruel' to the voters.
Veteran
eurosceptic Bernard Jenkin said claims the deal was 'legally binding'
because it will be deposited at the UN were 'male bovine excrement',
while Boris Johnson quizzed the PM on issues of sovereignty.
But
leaving the Commons after more than two hours of MPs' questions, Mr
Cameron appeared at ease having faced down his critics and won praise
from backers of the EU.
Scroll down for video
Mr Cameron,
pictured today at the Commons despatch box, made his case on the deal
for new terms with the European Union to MPs in a lengthy statement
in
his speech, Mr Cameron told MPs: 'If we stay, Britain will be in there
keeping a lid on the EU budget, protecting the rebate, stripping away
unnecessary regulation and seeing through the commitments we have
secured in this renegotiation.
'We
will never be part of the euro, never be part of Schengen, never be
part of a European Army, never be forced to bail out the eurozone with
our taxpayers' money and never be part of a European superstate.
'There is a clear path that can lead to a fresh settlement for Britain in a reformed EU.'
The
Prime Minister told MPs the final version of the deal would be lodged
with the United Nations adding it would be impossible for any changes to
be made after the referendum without British consent - ensuring it was
'legally binding'.
Mr Cameron also said he will never say the EU is 'fixed', even if the changes are secured.
He went on: 'There'll be many things that remain to be reformed and Britain would continue to lead the way.'
But
in a direct appeal to Tory MPs, he added: 'If you passionately believe
in your heart that Britain is better off outside the EU, then you should
vote that way.
'If you think, even if it's on balance, I think Britain's better off in, go with what you think.
'Don't
take a view because of what your constituency association might say, or
you're worried about a boundary review, or you think it might be
advantageous this way or that way.
'Do what's in your heart, if you think it's right for Britain then do that.'
London
Mayor Boris Johnson, whose support is eagerly sought by both sides of
the campaign, asked: 'How do these changes as a result of this
negotiation will restrict the volume of legislation coming from
Brussels, will change the treaties so as to assert the sovereign of this
House of Commons and of these Houses of Parliament?'
Mr
Cameron replied: 'For the first time ever in here is a commitment, not
only that Europe has to examine all its competences every year...
there's also the proposal to cut Brussels regulation with these
bureaucracy cuts targets. That's never been there before.
'You've
got welfare powers coming back, immigration powers coming back, bailout
powers coming back and of course the massive return of power we
achieved in the last parliament: justice and home affairs... we've
absolutely nailed that down.'
Mr
Rees-Mogg, the North East Somerset MP, warned 'the thin gruel has been
further watered down' warning Mr Cameron had just two weeks to save his
reputation as a negotiator.
Harwich
and North Essex MP Mr Jenkin described the deal as 'male bovine
excrement', hitting out at claims the agreement would be 'legally
binding' without be written into the treaties.
Tory Jacob
Rees-Mogg led criticism by claiming the 'thin gruel had been further
watered down' while his colleague Bernard Jenkin talked about 'male
bovine excrement'
Wellingborough's
Peter Bone, one of several MPs to wear a garish green and black tie
promoting the Grassroots Out campaign offered one of the garments to Mr
Cameron.
Sir
Edward Leigh, MP for Gainsborough, said: 'What is the point of having
an emergency brake on your car if the back seat driver - in this case
the EU - has the power to tell you when and for how long you should
press the pedal?'
And
Aldershot MP Sir Gerald Howarth said a 'red card' system which needed
15 parliaments to come together to block a new directive did not
'constitute a fundamental reform of the EU'.
Mr Cameron insisted the deal was 'something new'.
St Albas MP Anne Main told the Prime Minster: 'This is not what the British public wants.'
Labour
leader Jeremy Corbyn confirmed that Labour remained committed to
keeping Britain in the EU but dismissed Mr Cameron's re-negotiation as a
'Tory Party drama'.
He
said: 'For all the sound and fury, the Prime Minister has ended up
exactly where he knew he would be making the case to remain in Europe
which was what he always intended despite a renegotiated spectacle
choreographed for TV cameras over the continent.'
Following
his appearance in the Commons, Mr Cameron did a round of TV interviews
as he began the job of selling the deal to Britain.
He said he was 'happy to be judged' on what he had delivered - acknowledging he had not got everything he asked for.
But
the PM said: 'I'm happy to be judged on what we put in our manifesto
and what we are achieving on things people previously said were not
going to make progress on.
Labour
leader Jeremy Corbyn said the deal was about Mr Cameron managing his
party. Sir Bill Cash, centre, said the deal was 'inappropriate' and
failed to meet concerns. London Mayor Boris Johnson, right, asked a
generic question about the detail in the deal
Philip
Davies, left, was one of several MPs to don a lime green and black
Grassroots Out campaign tie, while Sir Gerald Howarth, centre, and Sir
Edward Leigh, right, both asked difficult questions of the PM
'Basically, I set out four things.
'If you come to Britain you won't get unemployment benefit – sorted.
'Secondly, if you don't have a job after six months, you have got to go home – sorted.
'Third, no child benefit. Well, it'll be child benefit but sent home at a local rate.
'And fourth, four years before access to our welfare system. Well, it's four years until full access to our welfare system.
'I
would say judge me on those things – they are substantial, they are
meaningful, they are not the final word but I think they do make a
difference, particular this key value we don't believe in something for
nothing.'
Mr Cameron will travel to Poland and Denmark on Friday for fresh talks as he bids to finalise the deal.
The
deal will not be finalised before the EU summit on February 18 and 19 -
but a confirmed deal there would start the clock for a referendum on
June 23.
Mr Cameron's Commons statement came amid growing criticism since the publication of the deal yesterday.
The Prime Minister's remarks risked being overshadowed as the London Mayor again failed to endorse the draft deal.
Mr Johnson told Sky News the PM was 'making the best of a bad job'.
Ahead
of the unveiling of Mr Tusk's package on Tuesday, the Mayor said he had
'doubts' about a proposed red-card scheme to give national parliaments
more power over Brussels laws.
Asked
whether he had changed his mind after seeing the document, he replied:
'I think the position is very much the same as it was yesterday morning,
which is a lot more to do on this.
'Let's wait and see when this whole thing is agreed and try to see what it really means - every bit of it.'
Selling the deal:
David Cameron, pictured leaving Downing Street today, is making his
case for Britain to stay in on the new terms offered by the EU
And
last night it emerged that three Cabinet ministers – Iain Duncan Smith,
Chris Grayling and Theresa Villiers – are ready to publicly declare for
the leave campaign.
However,
the PM received a boost when Home Secretary Theresa May effectively
ruled out joining them, ahead of the expected June 23 referendum.
The
Eurosceptics were scathing about Mr Cameron's failure to secure an
outright four-year ban on the payment of benefits to EU workers.
He had to trumpet instead an 'emergency brake' that will only restrict in-work handouts.
The
bizarre compromise means migrants will be eligible for tax credits that
increase the longer they are in the UK until, after four years, they
are on the standard rate.
Critics
said this offered them an incentive to stay here longer. It also
emerged that MEPs could block the brake after the referendum.
In a second manifesto surrender, Number 10 ditched a pledge to end child benefit for youngsters living abroad.
The
handout survives but will be paid at the rate prevailing in the
claimant's home country, providing the prospect of bureaucratic chaos.
Andrew
Rosindell, Tory MP for Romford, said: 'These proposals are a bit of a
slap in the face for Britain. The EU have shown that they simply have no
appetite for changing their ways.'
Campaigners
at Migrationwatch said the changes were 'unlikely to have any
significant effect' on net inflows. Immigration from the EU alone is
currently 180,000 a year.
One
Government insider said: 'This is a pale shadow of what was already a
pale shadow.' Another added: 'Does it stop anybody actually coming here
in the first place?'
Eurosceptics:
Last night it emerged that three Cabinet ministers – Iain Duncan Smith,
pictured left, Chris Grayling and Theresa Villiers, pictured right, –
are ready to publicly declare for the leave campaign
On a day of drama:
- Mr Cameron admitted his plans would not cut migration to the 'tens of thousands';
- The Out campaign continued to hunt for a figurehead after Mrs May declared Mr Cameron had won the 'basis for a deal';
- A senior Czech minister said the deal was likely to be signed off this month;
- Bookmakers shortened the odds of Britain voting to remain inside the EU to 1/3.
Support for the PM: Home Secretary Theresa May effectively ruled out joining the Out campaign
Eurosceptics
fear the Prime Minister is so determined to hold his referendum in June
– before the migrant crisis gets worse – that he will be willing to
give further ground to Brussels in the next two weeks of haggling before
the deal is voted on by EU leaders.
There is also alarm that the emergency brake could take a full year to introduce once the referendum is complete.
After
months of negotiations, in which the PM flew thousands of miles to EU
capitals, European Council president Donald Tusk yesterday released the
basis for a draft deal intended to keep Britain inside the EU.
The
short document included pledges to give Britain an exemption from the
EU's commitment to 'ever closer union' and boost competitiveness.
Controversial
proposals were unveiled for a so-called red card that would allow
national parliaments to block some EU legislation if 15 of them join
forces. This stopped well short of demands by Eurosceptic Tory MPs for a
simple veto.
Other pivotal issues – such as restricting freedom of movement – were never even raised.
Mr
Cameron said the proposals were 'worth fighting for' and Britain could
have the best of both worlds by keeping access to the single market and a
voice around the top EU table, while retaining its independence.
He added: 'Hand on heart, I have delivered the commitments made in my manifesto.'
A
decision was taken late on Monday evening that Mr Cameron was going to
give a speech at the Siemens factory near Swindon. Labour asked for him
to attend the House of Commons yesterday but Mr Cameron had already
left.
Europe minister David Lidington responded on behalf of the Government and faced a barrage of angry questions.
Steve
Baker, Tory MP for Wycombe, told him: 'This in-at-all-costs deal looks
funny, it smells funny, it might be superficially shiny on the outside,
but poke it and it's soft in the middle. Will you admit to the House
that you have been reduced to polishing poo?'
Analysis: A deal full of spin and sell outs
Mr
Cameron yesterday claimed the draft deal will secure 'substantial
change' in Britain's relationship with the EU. Here, JAMES SLACK
examines what he wanted – and what he got.
TAX CREDITS
'Substantial change': The PM speaking yesterday
What he wanted: A ban on EU migrants being paid in-work benefits for the first four years they are in the UK.
What he got: An
emergency brake allowing benefits to be restricted for up to four years
if our public services or welfare system are under pressure. But there
is a huge catch – the EU insists the 'limitation should be graduated,
from an initial complete exclusion to gradually increasing access to
such benefits'.
In
other words, EU workers will lose out on benefits for only one or two
years then begin receiving payments until – after four years – they will
not lose out at all. Details on when the brake can be pulled are vague
but, crucially, the final decision will rest with Brussels.
Verdict: An
ugly compromise that campaigners say will make little or no difference
to net migration from inside the EU, which stands at 180,000 a year.
Three quarters of EU workers get little or no tax credits and, in any
case, the new £9 living wage will ensure Britain remains a magnet for
workers from low-paid countries. The brake will be implemented only if
Britain votes to remain in the EU. Eurosceptics fear Brussels could
renege on the promise, or it could be blocked by MEPs.
CHILD BENEFIT
What he wanted: The
2015 Tory manifesto promised that: 'If an EU migrant's child is living
abroad, then they should receive no child benefit, no matter how long
they have worked in the UK and no matter how much tax they have paid.'
What he got: Child
benefit will continue to be paid, but at the same rate as in the
child's home country. For eastern European countries in particular, this
will significantly cut the bill. However, some officials fear it will
be a recipe for chaos – with Government IT systems struggling to cope
with paying 28 different levels of child benefit.
Verdict: Better than the status quo but still amounts to the abandonment of a manifesto commitment.
RED CARD FOR NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS
What he wanted: 'National parliaments to be able to work together to block unwanted European legislation.'
What he got: A
pledge that, if 55 per cent of national EU parliaments object to a
piece of EU legislation within 12 weeks of it being tabled, the council
presidency will hold a 'comprehensive discussion' and either amend the
proposals or block them altogether.
Britain
would need the support of at least 14 other states to make use of the
red card. The UK could be easily out-numbered by the 19 members of the
eurozone.
Verdict: Heavily
spun as a victory by Number 10 but stops well short of the outright
veto demanded by eurosceptics, including some Cabinet members.
Taking the heat: Europe minister David Lidington responded on behalf of the Government in Parliament
PROTECTION FROM THE EUROZONE
What he wanted: A
mechanism to ensure that 'Britain can't be discriminated against
because it's not part of the euro, can't pick up the bill for eurozone
bailouts and can't have imposed on it changes the eurozone want to make
without our consent'.
What he got:
Vague promise that an unspecified number of non-euro states will be
able to 'indicate their reasoned opposition' to a eurozone proposal and
that the EU's ruling council will then discuss the issue. Britain will
not have to pay for any future eurozone bailouts and, where emergency
funds are used, they can be recovered – save for admin costs. There was
also a pledge to boost competitiveness.
Verdict: France
has been resisting the idea that Britain can interfere in the workings
of the single currency. Unclear what will happen if no agreement can be
reached. Brussels remains adamant that no state should be able to 'veto
the effective management of the banking union or the future integration
of the euro area'.
SHAM MARRIAGES
What he wanted: The 2015 manifesto promised 'a continued crackdown on 'illegal working and sham marriages'.
What he got: The
European Commission agreed to exclude from free movement rules 'third
country nationals who had no prior lawful residence in a member state
before marrying a union citizen'. This is crucial in ending the racket
of non-EU citizens who would not qualify for a UK visa getting round the
rules by marrying somebody from another EU state, often in Eastern
Europe, then moving here. Criminal gangs have been charging thousands to
facilitate fake ceremonies.
Verdict: A
win. Number 10 had suggested Europe was objecting to the crackdown.
Home Secretary Theresa May fought hard to ensure it remained part of the
package.
EVER CLOSER UNION
What he wanted: Exempt Britain from the commitment in the EU's founding treaty to move toward 'ever closer union'.
What he got: The
EU said it was content to acknowledge 'that the United Kingdom, in the
light of the specific situation it has under the treaties, is not
committed to further political integration into the European Union'.
There
was also an acknowledgement that Britain does not have to join the euro
– a symbolic gesture since the UK has zero intention of signing up to
the crumbling one-size-fits-all currency union.
Verdict:
A win – though eurosceptics will believe it when they see it. The
change will not be written into the EU's treaties until they are next
reopened. No date has been set for this to happen.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What he wanted: The
2015 manifesto promised new powers to 'stop terrorists and other
serious foreign criminals who pose a threat to our society from using
spurious human rights arguments to prevent deportation'.
What he got: EU
rules which allow criminals and terror suspects to be turned away at
the UK border will be strengthened significantly. In particular, EU
nationals will be turned away even if they do not present an 'imminent'
threat. Their 'past conduct' or so-called soft intelligence – police
information which stops short of a conviction – will be sufficient to
act.
Verdict:
A win which followed months of hard bargaining by Mrs May with her
European colleagues. Is the basis on which she declared herself largely
happy with the PM's draft deal last night – effectively ending hopes she
will lead the out campaign.
THE SUPER SIX? WHO ARE THE TOP TORY POLITICIANS WHO STILL MIGHT JOIN THE BATTLE TO LEAVE EUROPE
Iain Duncan Smith
The work and pensions secretary and former Tory leader has long held deeply eurosceptic views.
It drove his brief party leadership and he would probably be the most high profile signing for the Out campaign.
In October 2003, he said: 'I will fight with all my strength to defend the British people's right to govern themselves.
'Conservatives
want to build a New Europe — not a single state with its own currency
and constitution, but a Europe of sovereign, enterprising nations.'
John Whittingdale
Mr Whittingdale wrote to the BBC last year demanding the broadcaster stayed impartial during the referendum campaign.
He said the corporation had to have a 'very robust' system in place to deal with impartiality.
In
2013 he warned: 'If it was a choice of the [EU] membership under the
present terms or coming out, then I'd vote to come out.'
Priti Patel
Ms Patel is the lowest ranked of those likely to back out but also one of the newest faces as she was first elected in 2010.
In
June 2014, she said: 'The status quo of EU membership is simply not an
option. The British public want less Europe and more Britain.
'The
British public want our political leaders to say 'No' to the
unaccountable, federalist European agenda which has led to the
widespread failures of the European Union we face today.'
Theresa Villiers
Northern
Ireland Secretary Ms Villiers may not be the highest profile member of
the cabinet but she has long been eurosceptic and was thought one of
those most likely to quit if Mr Cameron had not given freedom to
campaign.
In
2011, after the Government handed a contract which could have
safeguarded 3,000 UK jobs to a German firm: 'We are bound by European
Union rules, which mean . . . we are not permitted to take into account
the location of the factory in determining which bid is nominated. That
is a consequence of our membership of the EU.'
Chris Grayling
Mr
Grayling, who served as a minister in Mr Cameron's team since 2010, was
the first minister to make plain he would campaign for out in a
delicately worded Telegraph article that just stayed within the PM's
rules.
He
said last year: 'I've made no bones about the fact that I sit on the
Eurosceptic wing of the Conservative Party . . . If the British people
decide to leave, then we leave.
'This is a strong country and we will prosper whatever the situation is.
Boris Johnson
The
London mayor has famously flirted in and out of the Leave camp. He had
appeared earlier this year to rule himself out of the Leave campaign but
his strident attack on the PM's deal yesterday drew attention.
Last
year, he said: 'There is every reason to think, if we got the right
free trade deal, that we would flourish . . . I think the price of
getting out is lower than it's ever been.'
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