If we are to take something positive from William Hague's speech yesterday, it is that senior Conservatives seem to have got the message that Britain's role in the European Unioin is important. However, it has also exposed the emptiness of what the Cameron government has to offer on the international stage.
Our guest writer is Glenis Willmott MEP, Labour’s leader in the European Parliament
If we are to take something positive from William Hague’s speech yesterday, it is that senior Conservatives seem to have got the message that Britain’s role in the European Unioin is important. However, it has also exposed the emptiness of what the Cameron government has to offer on the international stage.
It is interesting to see Hague say that his government is determined “to give due weight to Britain’s membership of the EU and other multilateral institutions”; both Cameron and his foreign secretary’s approach to international affairs hasn’t had the isolationist attitude that many expected from their previously hard-line rhetoric.
That could be due to the presence of the Lib Dems, but it is more likely to be the pragmatism of government. But if that switch is reflected in the type of language being used, it isn’t so clear in the substance. Conservative ministers have taken the seals of office, but they are still acting like they sit on the opposition benches.
Hague’s speech, which was in essence an appeal to FCO mandarins and ambassadors, focused mostly on the last Labour government rather than big new ideas. Just look at the section of the speech that was released in advance to the media – it was an attempt to attack the previous administration for not having done enough to get Brits into the top jobs at the European Commission.
Putting to one side the appointment of Baroness Ashton as one of the EU’s top three officials, it is sad that this is all Hague has as his big story – particularly because he fails to offer any solutions that would increase British representation in the EU institutions.
Taking a closer look at the speech, the main thrust seems to be that the UK should downgrade its focus on France and Germany, focusing instead on the smaller EU countries. Once again, Hague sees this as an opportunity to take a swipe, saying that Labour “neglected to launch any new initiative to work with smaller nations”. The background to this is, of course, the fact the Conservative Party’s political family is now very much focused in central and eastern Europe.
It is true that Labour worked hard to have good relations with President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel, key players on the global stage whose countries represent more than 19 per cent of the UK’s export market, but to accuse the Labour government of neglecting other countries is unfair.
You don’t need gimmicks if you’ve got the relationships right in the first place and we have a proud record of engaging with colleagues from across all the EU member states and beyond. In the European Parliament we work as a group of over 180 MEPs from all of the EU’s 27 countries; meanwhile the Conservative’s international allies consist of 15 Poles, nine Czechs and a single politician from each of just five other countries. It is only natural that Hague hopes to focus his efforts away from those places where relationships have been allowed to crumble.
So what conclusions can we draw? So far, not many. Only when we get actions to match the talk can we really get a feel for the role this government sees for Britain in the world.
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6 Responses to “Hague’s actions on Europe not his words will show where he really stands”
House Of Twits
RT @leftfootfwd Hague's actions on Europe not his words will show where he really stands: http://bit.ly/b4yiFq
Hague’s actions on Europe not his words will show where he really stands « The best Labour blogs
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Anon E Mouse
Why is anyone surprised that the Tories are positive about Europe? It was a Tory government that took this country into Europe under Ted Heath.
It was Thatcher that signed the Single European Act, surely the most wretched document ever signed without it put before the British people – second only in fact to the Lisbon Treaty, once again not put to the people.
It was John Major that signed the Maastricht Treaty.
The thing is the Tories, in common with the British people, do not want further integration with a system where power is devolved to an unelected bunch of creeps over who they have no ability to throw out.
They also dislike the fact the books have not been signed off by an accountant for over 12 years yet we continue to be a net contributor.
They also dislike the fact that the expenses corruption in Europe continues to this day and dwarfs last years UK scandal. Remind me again how the Kinnocks can become multi millionaires from European public service.
Considering Cameron’s reception at the European meetings last week it is quite clear that the Tories have Europe at their heart and indeed there was a clamour by other leaders for photo ops with him so I think articles like these, whilst interesting works of fiction, have no real basis of fact in the real world.
Close but no cigar…
Glenis Willmott MEP
Hague’s actions on Europe will show where he really stands http://tinyurl.com/34btblt
Mr. Sensible
Glenis, is it still this government’s proposal to try and repatriate powers back from Europe?
If so, what does this mean for workers’ rights ETC under the social chapter?
Has Cameron committed to having national legislation with such rights? No he has not.