Roj Bash Kurdistan

Parliamentarians from Cameron's party argue case for Britain in EU

A group of parliamentarians from Prime Minister David Cameron's governing Conservative party on Monday set out their case for Britain remaining a member of the European Union, emphasising benefits including jobs and trade.

The move highlights the difficulties Cameron faces in satisfying all sides of a party deeply divided over Britain's ties with Europe - a subject which has plagued the Conservatives for decades and played a part in the downfall of two of his predecessors, John Major and Margaret Thatcher.

Under pressure from eurosceptics in his own party and the UK Independence Party (UKIP), which has no seats in the lower house of the national parliament but looks set to do well in the European elections in May on a campaign to leave the EU, Cameron has promised to reshape Britain's ties with the 28-nation bloc.

He has also promised to give Britons a vote on whether to leave the EU if he wins next year's national election.

On Sunday, Cameron outlined the areas in which he planned to reform Britain's relationship with Europe, including seeking to prevent mass migration and EU interference in police and judicial matters.

The European Mainstream group, which argues Britain's national interest is best served by working for change within the EU, believes the Conservatives should campaign to stay a member in any future in/out referendum.

Their report, written by 18 Conservative members of parliament including several former ministers, covered topics including the single market, migration, energy and defence and called on the party to better communicate the benefits of EU membership to voter.

"We need to start making the basic economic case that we are Better Off In," wrote Damian Green, minister for policing and criminal justice.

"Conservatives have a big and important case to make, not just about the need for reform, but about the need for Britain to continue to play a leading role in Europe."

Last week opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband said that a future Labour government was unlikely to hold a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU this decade, lowering the chances of Britain leaving the bloc.

Opinion polls show that about 40 percent of British voters want to stay in the EU, with about the same proportion wanting to leave, though they also show widespread hostility to immigration and dissatisfaction with established political parties.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/1 ... I120140317

Speaking personally I have to state that I do not know ANYONE who believes England should remain in the EU

The Conservative party is at last going to give us - the tax paying public - the opportunity to say whether or not we want to remain in the EU

I did notice that we have been offered a referendum ONLY after the next election - and ONLY by the Conservatives should they win

Obviously a type of bribery to entice us to vote Conservative again - and they way people feel about our continued involvement in the EU - one that is bound to insure votes

I fully understand why the people of the Crimea did not want to be cajoled into joining the EU and firmly believe they have made the right choice

Good for them I say - and shame on our politicians who will not give us the same choice unless the Conservatives win the next election

The Labour Party in England is controlled by Union block votes and is a hive of corruption that has not real interest in the people or the country as a whole - and has no intention of giving us - the people who pay their wages through our taxes - any say at all as to whether we want to leave the EU or not

Speaking personally I have to state that I do not know ANYONE who believes England should remain in the EU

I think that is also the opinion of 90% in other UE countries.

Piling wrote:

Speaking personally I have to state that I do not know ANYONE who believes England should remain in the EU

I think that is also the opinion of 90% in other UE countries.

Glad to know that we are not the only ones

I gather that a large number of Turks do not think joining the EU is a good idea

If Turkey restricts internet usages even more will the EU claim he is abusing freedom

Also if Turkey decides against joining the EU will it continue to allow Kurds greater rights and freedoms - especially as one of the main reasons in allowing those rights was to comply with EU demands?