The Foreign Office shows clearly why it is never to be trusted. It
is their job to carry out the wishes of the elected government not
run around arrogantly making their own policies.
You could expect lurid headlines from the Independent . They are ,
of course, so outraged that rthe Tory party might behave like
Conservatives that they will distort the truth but what is
instructive is that somebody in the FCO is whinging to the Indie!
If they're this worried it's good news!
On the other hand she might have got it from Damian McBride - it's
his level of dirt!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx cs
================================
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT 3.5.09
Diplomats' anger at Tory plans to create right-wing EU group
Joining forces with homophobic Polish MEPs will leave Britain
isolated and ridiculed, officials warn
By Jane Merrick, Political Editor
David Cameron has caused dismay at the highest levels in the Foreign
Office over plans for a hardline European policy under a Tory
government, The Independent on Sunday has learnt.
The Conservative leader risks leaving Britain isolated and ridiculed,
say diplomats, if he pushes ahead with plans to form a new
Eurosceptic group in the Strasbourg parliament which would include a
party that warns homosexuality will trigger the "downfall of
civilisation".
Officials are also alarmed that the shadow Foreign Secretary, William
Hague, has told Sir Peter Ricketts, the Foreign Office's permanent
secretary, to prepare for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty as the
first act of a Tory government. Mr Cameron has not ruled out calling
a referendum even if all EU countries ratify the treaty, a move that
has caused particular consternation at the Foreign Office.
Mr Hague confirmed last week that the Tories would leave the European
People's Party (EPP), the grouping that includes the parties of
Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel, after the European elections on 4
June. [Aren't those two, good enough reasons for leaving. After
alk Merrkel's past is murky to say the least as her family actually
emigrated TO Communist East Germanty where they prospered. -cs]
He said formal talks on an "amicable separation" had been completed
and that he was confident that at least 20 MEPs representing parties
from seven countries - the minimum required to qualify for funding
for a new grouping - would sign up, claiming that the Conservatives
had "lots of partners in the wings".
The group will include the Polish Law and Justice Party (PiS), which
has banned gay rights marches for being "sexually obscene". Its co-
founder Jaroslaw Kaczynski has said that homosexuality will cause the
"downfall of civilisation". Another PiS MP has warned that Barack
Obama's victory would mean "the end of the civilisation of the white
man". Mr Hague has also held talks with a Latvian hardline
nationalist party.
A senior diplomat warned that Mr Cameron must "remain engaged" in
Europe and expressed dismay over the treaty and the new grouping.
[He shoud do the job he's paid to do and keep his big mouth shujt -
if he actually exists, that is -cs]
And the former Europe minister Denis MacShane said: "Tory
isolationism is now creating a network of unpleasant, ugly, anti-
European parties grouped around Cameron and Hague, but surely they
should draw the line at links with gay-bashing homophobes." [McShane
has been saying wilder and madder things lately! I referred to him
elsewhere today blaming the Tories for the BNP !! Eh? -cs]
Although Tory MEPs are concerned, Mr Cameron's pledge to leave the
EPP, made during his 2005 leadership campaign, won over the right
wing of his party, and many believe it secured his victory over David
Davis. As many as 40 MPs, one in five of all Tory MPs, backed Mr
Cameron because of the promise. Although a revolt, if he reneged on
the pledge, is unlikely with the Tories so close to power, the U-turn
would cause an unnecessary risk, say his aides.
A Conservative spokesman said: "When we form our new group, we will
continue to be energetically engaged with our European partners on
issues such as global competitiveness, the environment and on global
poverty. As for the Lisbon Treaty, the Government promised to give
people a say on the EU constitution and we will continue to pressure
them to change their mind again and keep that promise. It is a matter
of faith and trust."
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