Labour’s stance on Europe is latest piece of opportunism

SO, Ed Miliband says Labour will adopt “hard-headed” realism to its approach regarding Europe. Well, Miliband’s party wasn’t at all hard-headed on Europe when it was in power.

The Labour government he served in gave away more money and more powers to Europe than ever before. Labour denied us the referendum they promised on the Lisbon Treaty and then signed the treaty, which made it harder for individual countries like Britain to block EU laws and decisions.

As a result, the UK is now unable to use its veto to block future changes in an increasing number of areas. Also, in 2005, Tony Blair agreed to water down the British rebate secured by Margaret Thatcher and agreed an above-inflation increase in the overall EU budget.

Despite Miliband’s attempted distortion of the truth, I think most people will recognise that it has always been the Conservatives who have secured the best deal for the UK in Europe. It is laughable that Miliband’s party, who drove virtually the final nail into the coffin of the UK’s sovereignty, can have the gall to try and now present itself as Eurosceptic. Then again, this two-faced, double talking strategy is only too typical of a Labour party desperate to ignore its lamentable past record. It is irresponsible for Labour to try and gain short-term political advantage in this way while the country is in crisis.

Yet again we see Labour, who caused the problems initially, opportunistically and gleefully jumping on the back of a Government which is merely trying to sort out the problems it inherited.

The fact is, Labour left the UK in a mess and now expects to be taken seriously, having calmly sauntered to the other side of the Commons. However, in opposition, Labour cannot be taken seriously as long as it jumps on every bandwagon that presents itself, from “class warfare” through to bogus support for Euroscepticism (merely designed to fuel division within the coalition). I live in hope that we, as an electorate, when the time comes, will punish Labour for this short-term desire to get ahead in the polls and, in fact, respect the tough decisions the Coalition has had to take.

Labour surrendered too much power to the EU and also presided over economic meltdown during its time in office. Labour are not credible on the EU and they are not credible on the economy either.

Frankly, it is time for Labour to grow up and stop the double talk and to admit their failings.

From: Nick Martinek, Briarlyn Road, Huddersfield.

HINDSIGHT is a wonderful thing, if only our politicians would use it. For 40 years we have been part of the EU (or its predecessors) and every British government, Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats, including this one, has insisted that the EU is essential for the UK, but that no evidence is necessary to prove it. At a time of widely reported EU crises, such bluster is no longer acceptable.

If we look back at what has actually happened, we can see that the EU has repeatedly given us vague promises of “influence” and ephemeral concessions in return for our hard cash and sovereignty. And our politicians have fallen for it every time. There is not a single major political development within the EU that has gone the UK’s way. Even the much-vaunted single market costs three times more than its benefits.

Recognising these problems, both the Conservatives and Labour now want to renegotiate our “relationship” with the EU. But the EU is not offering us this option. Our political leaders must think again. There are only two available legal options: to repeal the 1972 European Communities Act (ECA), via our own Parliament, and hence leave the EU; or to invoke Article 50 TEU (from the Lisbon Treaty) where we must ask the EU’s permission to leave.