Eurosceptic Conservatives laud leader's referendum promise, but opposition accuses PM of sowing further uncertainty
Tory MPs showered David Cameron with praise for settling the issue of Europe inside his own party, but the Eurosceptic wing revealed doubts whether it was either realistic or achievable for the prime minister to be able to renegotiate the British relationship and remain inside the EU.
Leading Eurosceptic Mark Pritchard said the speech was "well considered, thoughtful and long overdue". It settled the issue for the Conservative party, he claimed, predicting that "by 2015 Labour will have inserted in its manifesto some sort of referendum commitment, so the problem of Europe has transferred from the Conservative party to Ed Miliband". He said this was a new consensus for the British Conservative party on Europe and that in itself was a major triumph for the prime minister.
He said there was frustration among some that Britain would have effectively open borders for five years and would not be able to change employment laws before then. He added it would be a major challenge to persuade the rest of Europe to become more competitive.
Robert Buckland, a more pro-European Tory, praised Cameron for not peering too far into the distance with a shopping list.
The former chancellor Lord Lamont also praised the prime minister, and urged EU leaders to be sympathetic to his demands or else they would push Britain towards the exit door. He predicted it would mean many sceptics drifting away to Ukip, but said it was wrong and unfair to see the issue as an internal Conservative issue.Lord Ashcroft, the influential Tory peer and pollster urged the party now to focus on issues voters care most about, not talking more about Europe.
"The new policy will be in the manifesto. The only question is whether we will get a chance to implement it – and that depends on whether we get a majority at the next election. And that depends on how voters think we are doing on the economy, jobs, public services, welfare, crime, immigration: whether we are on their side and understand their priorities," Ashcroft said.
"It is time for Tory Eurosceptics to declare victory and talk about something else."
Douglas Alexander, the shadow foreign secretary, described the speech as empty, and a vague road map. He said it was extraordinary that Cameron had been unable to say whether he would vote yes or no to Europe. He asked: "Is it any wonder that many investors around the world will be genuinely uncertain whether Europe will or will not be part of the single market?"
He added: "We all expected some red lines and say "this is where we stand and if we don't get this, I believe we leave the EU". We did not get this."
He said he supported changes to the EU, but added: "The idea that you put a gun to the head of your EU partners and stand in the departure lounge shouting at 26 other members of European Union as the way to get those changes does not make sense to me."
He said Labour was not against referendums in principle but he did not think it was the right time to announce an "in or out" referendum, adding the priority should be economic stability.
The former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "This is more about Ukip than it is about the UK.
"The prime minister's efforts to reconcile his own position with that of his Eurosceptic backbenchers leads logically to the position that if he could not get what he wanted out of Europe, he would be willing for the UK to leave.
"This will hardly commend his approach to those in the EU whose co-operation he requires."
The CBI director general, John Cridland, said: "The EU single market is fundamental to Britain's future economic success, but the closer union of the eurozone is not for us.
"The prime minister rightly recognises the benefits of retaining membership of what must be a reformed EU and the CBI will work closely with government to get the best deal for Britain." Reported by guardian.co.uk 17 hours ago.
Tory MPs showered David Cameron with praise for settling the issue of Europe inside his own party, but the Eurosceptic wing revealed doubts whether it was either realistic or achievable for the prime minister to be able to renegotiate the British relationship and remain inside the EU.
Leading Eurosceptic Mark Pritchard said the speech was "well considered, thoughtful and long overdue". It settled the issue for the Conservative party, he claimed, predicting that "by 2015 Labour will have inserted in its manifesto some sort of referendum commitment, so the problem of Europe has transferred from the Conservative party to Ed Miliband". He said this was a new consensus for the British Conservative party on Europe and that in itself was a major triumph for the prime minister.
He said there was frustration among some that Britain would have effectively open borders for five years and would not be able to change employment laws before then. He added it would be a major challenge to persuade the rest of Europe to become more competitive.
Robert Buckland, a more pro-European Tory, praised Cameron for not peering too far into the distance with a shopping list.
The former chancellor Lord Lamont also praised the prime minister, and urged EU leaders to be sympathetic to his demands or else they would push Britain towards the exit door. He predicted it would mean many sceptics drifting away to Ukip, but said it was wrong and unfair to see the issue as an internal Conservative issue.Lord Ashcroft, the influential Tory peer and pollster urged the party now to focus on issues voters care most about, not talking more about Europe.
"The new policy will be in the manifesto. The only question is whether we will get a chance to implement it – and that depends on whether we get a majority at the next election. And that depends on how voters think we are doing on the economy, jobs, public services, welfare, crime, immigration: whether we are on their side and understand their priorities," Ashcroft said.
"It is time for Tory Eurosceptics to declare victory and talk about something else."
Douglas Alexander, the shadow foreign secretary, described the speech as empty, and a vague road map. He said it was extraordinary that Cameron had been unable to say whether he would vote yes or no to Europe. He asked: "Is it any wonder that many investors around the world will be genuinely uncertain whether Europe will or will not be part of the single market?"
He added: "We all expected some red lines and say "this is where we stand and if we don't get this, I believe we leave the EU". We did not get this."
He said he supported changes to the EU, but added: "The idea that you put a gun to the head of your EU partners and stand in the departure lounge shouting at 26 other members of European Union as the way to get those changes does not make sense to me."
He said Labour was not against referendums in principle but he did not think it was the right time to announce an "in or out" referendum, adding the priority should be economic stability.
The former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "This is more about Ukip than it is about the UK.
"The prime minister's efforts to reconcile his own position with that of his Eurosceptic backbenchers leads logically to the position that if he could not get what he wanted out of Europe, he would be willing for the UK to leave.
"This will hardly commend his approach to those in the EU whose co-operation he requires."
The CBI director general, John Cridland, said: "The EU single market is fundamental to Britain's future economic success, but the closer union of the eurozone is not for us.
"The prime minister rightly recognises the benefits of retaining membership of what must be a reformed EU and the CBI will work closely with government to get the best deal for Britain." Reported by guardian.co.uk 17 hours ago.