John Baron MP presses Minister about safeguarding British interests in Europe

Government fails to provide any guarantees

Today in the House of Commons there was an emergency debate, called by Conservative Eurosceptic MPs, on the Government’s position in relation to the European summit tomorrow. This summit will include the signing of a new treaty of 25 countries (excluding Britain) in an attempt to save the Euro and solve the Eurozone crisis. Within the proposals, there is talk of allowing the Eurozone 17, plus others, to use the EU institutions – despite Government assurances this would not be allowed to happen. John was one of those Eurosceptic MPs calling for the debate, and spoke during the debate itself.

John said,

“I question why the Government is committed to saving the Euro. All the economic evidence suggests that countries which devalue their currency substantially benefit by way of economic growth. This has happened in the vast majority of the 85 instances since the Second World War where countries have left a currency bloc. Greece desperately needs to devalue, but can not because it is a member of the Euro.”

“With democracy suspended in at least two countries, a deepening democratic deficit across the Eurozone, and a fiscal compact which undermines EU institutions, Europe is fast approaching a tipping-point beyond which its credibility and legitimacy will be brought into question.”

Finally, John asked Rt Hon David Liddington MP, Minister for Europe, about safeguarding British interests:

“What concrete and substantive guarantees can the Minister highlight which will protect British interests should they be threatened by the two-tier Europe that will be created through the establishment of this fiscal compact?”

The Minister replied that there was no reason to suppose the 25 member state signatories of the fiscal compact will act as a single caucus, and that Britain could still expect to find allies in the EU to protect her vital interests.

Afterwards, John said,

“This is a nonsense. To rely on the goodwill and rules created by the very same EU members who have broken the existing rules beggars belief. There are no concrete guarantees to safeguard British interests, and this is why the Prime Minister needs to be on his guard.”