Clegg defends Cameron's use of veto at EU summit (Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats)

Clegg defends Cameron's use of veto at EU summit

December 9, 2011 5:57 PM

cable • [Dec 09] Patrick Wintour writes: ' . . VINCE Cable, the business secretary, said it would take time to digest the implications for the EU in terms of treaty change. He said the really important thing about the summit was that the eurozone sorted out its very deep financial crisis because hundreds of thousands of British jobs depended on it:

"We will see that over the next few days. The key national interest we are trying to protect here is the single market which very large numbers of jobs depend on it. We have a critical interest in protecting the single market, keeping it open and enlarging it. That is what the argument is about."

But his close ally Lord Oakeshott, the senior Liberal Democrat peer, took a different view and may be projecting other aspects of Cable's thinking. He accused Cameron of undermining Britain's influence in Europe and putting the interests of the City above the wider economy. He said:

"It is a black day for Britain and Europe. We are now in the waiting room while critical decisions are being taken. By pulling out of the main centre-right grouping in Europe and linking up with the wackos and weirdos in eastern Europe instead, David Cameron has seriously undermined Britain's influence. With the western economies and our banking system on the edge of a cliff, we should not be putting special pleading for special interests in the City of London above our vital national interest of working closely together with Germany and France to keep our economy and jobs all over Britain safe." . . '

• Clegg defends Cameron's use of veto at EU summit [Guardian Dec 09]

• As the dust settles, a cold new Europe with Germany in charge will emerge [Guardian Dec 09]

• Following David Cameron's Europe raspberry, how low can Nick Clegg go? [Marina Hyde Guardian Dec 09]

• Nick Clegg, you've been defeated over Europe - now produce a Lib Dem win [David Hall-Matthews Guardian Dec 09]