The threat of a highly embarrassing Tory rebellion on the EU Bill in the coming weeks is intended to put maximum pressure on the Prime Minister to strengthen the legislation to ensure it is an effective way of resisting power grabs by the European Union. A Commons revolt could include many new Conservative MPs seen as rising stars, as well as veteran Tory backbenchers, with the backing of Labour eurosceptics. Critics complain that the Bill, which promises a referendum on proposed transfers of sovereignty to the European Union, only allows the British people a say if ministers deem the change significant enough. Given that five major transfers of power to Brussels have taken place since the Coalition came to power in May, all of which were talked down by ministers at the time, there is evidence that the Government cannot be trusted to make such a decision, they say. One Conservative MP last night called the Bill, which has been much vaunted by Mr Cameron, "the worst kind of Blairite spin". Early soundings taken by eurosceptic MPs suggest that at least 40 Tories are prepared to vote for amendments strengthening the Bill, with another 50 considering their position. They may abstain or join the rebellion. While such amendments could only be carried if they were backed by the Labour leadership, a Tory revolt on such a scale would deal a significant political blow to Mr Cameron. In a sign of the trouble to come, 40 MPs, 23 of them Tories, last week voted against changes to the Lisbon Treaty giving the EU the ability to oversee the budgets of member states, while 42 MPs, 37 of them Conservatives, voted against increases to the EU budget last month. Last night, Tory backbenchers warned of an increasingly dangerous gulf between their views and those of the Government on the issue of what constitutes a transfer of power. One MP said: "The EU Bill has incensed the eurosceptics. It is rubbing salt in the wounds. It would not have stopped any of the transfers of power that have happened since May. It is the worst kind of Blairite spin. "It is extremely foolish of the Government to raise it all again if they are not going to do something properly. There is a big and very worrying divide on this." The exact wording of any amendments is still being worked out. But it is believed MPs may try, for example, to write in a clause ensuring that no EU home affairs measures can be foisted on Britain in future. Other amendments may try to safeguard economic sovereignty. MPs point to five transfers of power to Brussels since May, including the Coalition's rubber-stamping of the European External Action Service, implementing a common foreign and security policy, and EU regulatory control over the City of London. Tory backbenchers are still furious that Mr Cameron reneged on a pledge to hold a referendum on the controversial Lisbon Treaty, which transferred major powers to EU control.Tories gear up for a showdown on Europe Bill
As many as 100 MPs could challenge David Cameron's
Europe policy in an attempt to stop further powers being
ceded to Brussels, it has emerged.
Sunday, 14 November 2010
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