Listen up Tory party

If the Tories want to win back my support in the General Election then they should take the following advice:

Tory hawks will urge Michael Howard to harden party policy on Europe after poll findings

CONSERVATIVE Eurosceptics are to step up pressure on Michael Howard to harden his party’s policy on the European Union after a poll suggesting that the British people — particularly the young — would back a renegotiation of Britain’s membership terms.

A survey by ICM for the European Foundation over the weekend indicated that 58 per cent agreed that Britain should renegotiate EU treaties so that they were reduced to trade and association agreements.

The poll found that 68 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds backed a policy of renegotiation. It also suggested that 63 per cent of professionals and managers backed that policy, which has always been seen as a crucial step towards withdrawal from the EU. Sixty per cent of the skilled working classes supported it.

Of course, after Sean Gabb's memorandum and meeting with the party we know that:

there would be no change of policy and no change of emphasis. The Conservative leadership would under no circumstances talk about withdrawal from the European Union.

Well, I suppose you could argue semantics and say that withdrawal and renegotiation are very different things but, frankly, I think a renegotiation down to trade and association agreements only (with none of the usual hidden extras that we have come to associate with the EU) is an acceptable and wholly appropriate level of withdrawal.

However, no change of policy or emphasis is a pretty clear statement of intent by the Tories and they will have little chance of winning back my support with that kind of attitude.

Listen up. I feel badly let down by the party I have supported for over 20 years. I'd much rather face a clear enemy in opposition than a false ally in power.

Posted by John at November 23, 2004 11:24 AM | TrackBack