19th June 2011 Heated exchange: Steve Hilton thinks the UK should go it alone Tory calls for Britain to pull out of the European Union received a major boost last night after claims that they are backed by David Cameron’s most senior policy adviser. Downing Street director of strategy Steve Hilton is said to have swung behind moves for the UK to go it alone after being shocked to discover how much sovereignty has switched from Westminster to Brussels. He also believes Britain should pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) because it gives too much power to judges – and too little to Ministers and MPs. Mr Hilton’s growing frustration with the EU is one of the reasons he has been involved in heated exchanges in No 10 which have fuelled reports that he may walk out in protest at the Government’s failure to press ahead with radical reforms to the NHS, White¬hall and other institutions. His stance is strongly opposed by Mr Cameron’s pro-EU chief of staff, Ed Llewellyn, who worked for former Tory EU Commissioner Chris Patten and passionate pro-European Liberal Democrat Paddy Ashdown. Coalition insiders dismissed reports of a bitter rift between volatile Euro- sceptic Mr Hilton and mild-mannered Europhile mandarin Mr Llewellyn. But they did not dispute Mr Hilton’s dramatic change of heart on the EU. ‘Steve is impatient to get things done but time and again he is told that he can’t because of this or that European legislation,’ said a source. Guru: Mr Hilton has been best known for helping Mr Cameron shed the Tories' so-called 'nasty party' image ‘He feels there is strong case for Britain pulling out of the EU and getting rid of the ECHR. The person who usually tells him it can’t be done is Ed Llewellyn.’ Until now, shaven-headed political guru Mr Hilton has been best known for helping Mr Cameron shed the Tories’ so-called ‘nasty party’ image with a series of trendy stunts that have upset traditionalists. He devised the Prime Minister’s ‘Big Society’ concept and unveiled a new tree logo for the party. He also persuaded Mr Cameron to pose for photos with huskies, cycle to work and adopt a dressed-down ‘tieless’ image. Furthermore, he reportedly shocked No 10 aides during the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton by displaying Republican sympathies. But, dismayed at the way EU laws restrict the Coalition’s freedom to act, he has moved into line with Tory Right-wingers in his views on Europe. ‘People have got Steve wrong,’ said a friend. ‘He is very zealous on some modernising issues, but has become increasingly Thatcherite on other matters such as Europe.’ Downing Street sources insist Mr Hilton’s future at No 10 is secure. However, there is growing disquiet over the methods of his second-in-command, deputy director of strategy Rohan Silva. Aide: David Cameron with Steve Hilton on a visit to the Arctic in 2006 Well-placed sources claim Wakefield-born political appointee Silva, a former aide to a Labour MP, mimics his boss and models himself as ‘mini-Steve’. They claim he displays the same ‘abrupt’ style in dealings with civil servants and others. ‘Rohan appears to say all manner of things claiming to represent the Prime Minister’s views, when he doesn’t,’ said one source. ‘It’s annoying.’ A Downing Street spokesman declined to comment.Now Cameron's disillusioned senior policy adviser backs calls to pull out of
Europe
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2005401/David-Camerons-disillusioned-senior-policy-adviser-backs-calls-pull-Europe.html#ixzz1Ph4nnGeq
Sunday, 19 June 2011
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