He’s done it.  Our Prime Minister has stood up for Britain in Europe. 

 

Whilst most of us know it is in our national interest that the Eurozone countries find a solution to their currency and debt problems, I am delighted that our Prime Minister, David Cameron, has stood up for us and refused to sign the UK into a treaty that would have threatened British jobs and industries.  For example, 10% of the UK economy is based on the financial services sector and this would have been swept away had he signed the agreement in the form presented. 

 

Whereas every other member of the EU is contractually obliged to join the euro, Britain has an opt out.  David Cameron went to Brussels with a clear goal: to make sure Britain signed up to a treaty that had the necessary safeguards.  Safeguards that would stop a ‘treaty within a treaty’ which would have created a new complex structure which could undermine UK interests unfairly. 

 

If France and Germany had been prepared to compromise, then sufficient safeguards could have been put in place.  Sadly, they were unwilling to do so and a deal could not be achieved.  Thankfully our Prime Minister had the courage to defend Britain and opted instead to allow other countries establish a new treaty of their own.

 

The Eurozone Members will now push ahead with a new treaty for the 17 Eurozone Member States, plus 9 other Member States, once agreement has been sought from some of the national parliaments involved.

 

On balance, facing immense pressure, our Prime Minister did the right thing.  He stood up for Britain’s interests.