Who is trying to scupper the EU negotiations?

This article was originally going to be called 'The Lunatic Right' in reaction to what appear to be the attempts of certain right wingers in the Conservative party to scupper the negotiations that Mr Cameron has initiated with our European partners.

That would have been unfair, because those who do not want us to remain in the EU are probably well intentioned and principled people. It could be argued, however, that their current activities are likely - intentionally or otherwise - to make it increasingly difficult for our negotiators to secure a deal that is acceptable to the British electorate at the referendum that we are certainly going to have.

Of course, if the 'Brexit' group are able to make sufficient background noise, the fact that they are not at the table to have their say could be irrelevant, because they could both offend the other EU countries, by:

a. Making bellicose demands they simply cannot agree to; and

b. Impose constraints on Mr Cameron's ability to negotiate freely, by forcing him to make more extreme demands that he wants - or are necessary.

If they succeed in this aspiration, they will do a disservice to the nation, because we will end up with a hotchpotch that nobody really wants and the voters might not support. We could end up leaving the EU by default, simply because we could not get reasonable terms. Anyone who looks at the details of what is happening in Greece must realise that a 'Brexit' could do as much harm to both sides as would a 'Grexit'.

It was interesting, therefore, to read an article in The Times, on 20th June (subscription required), which outlined the appointment of Mr Persson as a Special Adviser to Number 10. He was previously director of a body which fought to keep us out of the Euro - something for which we should all be grateful - but had more recently preferred "staying inside the 28-member club" while challenging the way it works.

In my view, there are many aspects of the EU which require changing - it was never originally intended to be a United States of Europe and the bureaucracy is simply another administrative layer on Westminster and other local government bodies throughout the UK and the rest of Europe; it needs to be slimmed down and costs cut.

But there are also very good reasons why we should wish to remain within it. For example, it offers us ongoing access to massive European markets, as well as to a seemingly endless supply of willing workers, should we want them. It is also makes us the perfect springboard for the US and other countries to get into European markets, to our mutual benefit.

Perhaps one of the greatest problems with the EU, dare it be said - could be that we tend to be too rigorous in following its rules. If we were only a little more 'flexible' in their interpretation, rather than 'gold plating' them, we might all get along a little better.

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Stephen Phillips is a member of the Shepway Liberal Democrats, and his views are not necessarily those of the Party. He has been writing professionally for many years on investment and economic related issues, and has focussed recently on creative writing.

You can find Stephen online at www.phillips-writer.co.uk

Who is trying to scupper the EU negotiations?

This article was originally going to be called 'The Lunatic Right' in reaction to what appear to be the attempts of certain right wingers in the Conservative party to scupper the negotiations that Mr Cameron has initiated with our European partners.

That would have been unfair, because those who do not want us to remain in the EU are probably well intentioned and principled people. It could be argued, however, that their current activities are likely - intentionally or otherwise - to make it increasingly difficult for our negotiators to secure a deal that is acceptable to the British electorate at the referendum that we are certainly going to have.

Of course, if the 'Brexit' group are able to make sufficient background noise, the fact that they are not at the table to have their say could be irrelevant, because they could both offend the other EU countries, by:

1. Making bellicose demands they simply cannot agree to; and

2. Impose constraints on Mr Cameron's ability to negotiate freely, by forcing him to make more extreme demands that he wants - or are necessary.

If they succeed in this aspiration, they will do a disservice to the nation, because we will end up with a hotchpotch that nobody really wants and the voters might not support. We could end up leaving the EU by default, simply because we could not get reasonable terms. Anyone who looks at the details of what is happening in Greece must realise that a 'Brexit' could do as much harm to both sides as would a 'Grexit'.

It was interesting, therefore, to read an article in The Times, on 20^th June, which outlined the appointment of Mr Persson as a Special Adviser to Number 10. He was previously director of a body which fought to keep us out of the Euro - something for which we should all be grateful - but had more recently preferred "staying inside the 28-member club" while challenging the way it works.

In my view, there are many aspects of the EU which require changing - it was never originally intended to be a United States of Europe and the bureaucracy is simply another administrative layer on Westminster and other local government bodies throughout the UK and the rest of Europe; it needs to be slimmed down and costs cut.

But there are also very good reasons why we should wish to remain within it. For example, it offers us ongoing access to massive European markets, as well as to a seemingly endless supply of willing workers, should we want them. It is also makes us the perfect springboard for the US and other countries to get into European markets, to our mutual benefit.

Perhaps one of the greatest problems with the EU, dare it be said - could be that we tend to be too rigorous in following its rules. If we were only a little more 'flexible' in their interpretation, rather than 'gold plating' them, we might all get along a little better.