Dodgy Deal?

The new edition of The Spectator arrived this morning and added to the seemingly endless media speculation about the current Brussels negotiations. I was struck by the opening paragraph of the leading article:

"David Cameron's attempt to renegotiate Britain's membership has served as powerful reminder of  the case for leaving.  The EU is designed in such a way that almost no sensible proposal can be passed.  If one member state has a good idea, the other 27 members demand a price for approving it, or they demand concessions until it is completely watered down. If the leader of a country protests, the response is clear: What are you going to do? You wouldn't dare."

Quite, and if, as expected, some sort of "deal" is cobbled together later today, what should we do next?

On 23 January 2013, in his EU Speech at Bloomberg, David Cameron outlined his vision for Europe.  Many of us, subsequently classified as swivel-eyed loons who should be ignored by the MPs they assisted to elect, were placated.  We thought David Cameron should be given a chance and that should he be able to deliver meaningful change as outline in his speech then, maybe, he should enjoy our support.  He concluded his speech by saying:

"I know there will be those who say the vision I have outlined will be impossible to achieve. That there is no way our partners will co-operate. That the British people have set themselves on a path to inevitable exit. And that if we aren’t comfortable being in the EU after 40 years, we never will be.

But I refuse to take such a defeatist attitude - either for Britain or for Europe."

The draft agreement of the current negotiations has been described as "thin gruel" and "absolutely nothing." As I write, sticking points are being watered down to accommodate the stately dance so eloquently described in my quote from The Spectator.  It seems likely that there will be some sort of deal but it will rapidly unpick and be exposed as the elegant form of words that it is - an undeliverable and unenforceable load of Euro-babble.  Surely David Cameron could not insult our intelligence by trying to sell us such a dodgy dossier?  Time to admit defeat, honourably? And surely other good men of importance, hitherto holding their peace, who see the folly of tying ourselves to the mast of the sinking EU will now speak out effectively?

The rump of Selby & Ainsty with Elmet and Rothwell Conservative Party Forum, pending official sanction from the national organisation, meets next Tuesday to discuss our response to our respective MPs.  I look forward to a very lively meeting!