IT will go down in history books as one of David Cameron’s shoddiest undertakings. From the beginning of his European tour there was something distinctly un-statesmanlike about the Prime Minister going around leaders in Berlin and Paris and elsewhere, putting the case for major — and unrealistic concessions — on the UK’s EU membership.
No in-work benefits for workers living in Britain from other parts of Europe for four years, he pleaded. No British child benefit paid for children living elsewhere, he insisted. Bigger obstacles on free movement of workers, he argued.
It was clear from the outset such demands to European heads of state were bound to fail — and rightly so.
While Cameron, of course, heralded this week’s deal as real progress, how successful his diplomacy has been will be apparent when the draft document goes before the 27 others EU leaders at the end of the month.
But let us be absolutely clear this whole murky exercise was nothing to do with giving UK voters a chance to have their say on Europe — and all to do with appeasing hardliners in the Conservative parliamentary party, including many of Cameron’s own ministers.
Who can forget how the last Prime Minister of a Tory majority government, John Major, was continually undermined by the Eurosceptic “bastards” on his frontbench?
But by giving into the anti-Euro right, Cameron has proven himself a weakened leader both in Europe and at home. The path he has embarked on will now make it impossible for him to be viewed as an effective ally by his counterparts on the European mainland.
At home, however, there is one way he can restore a smidgen of dignity to himself in parts of the UK such as Scotland which did not vote for his party and never backed his referendum.
He must listen to the calls from the heads of the devolved governments in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast not to hold the EU vote in June, just weeks after the voters there go to the polls in their national elections on 5 May.
As the three leaders have explained, not to accept their requests disrespects the significance of these important events and leaves little time for voters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to get to grip with the European issues after thinking through the political options facing them at home.
We doubt, however, if the PM will listen to them. After all, the EU referendum is not about furthering democracy.
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