Seeking EU exit a betrayal of 
UK national interest says Clegg

The Deputy Prime Minister made the claim following the report in yesterday’s Yorkshire Post that Yorkshire multimillionaire Paul Sykes was to offer financial support to the eurosceptic party for next year’s European elections.

The Sheffield Halham MP said that seeking EU exit was “a betrayal of the national interest” because withdrawal would cost jobs and economic prosperity and leave Britain weaker as a country.

But Ukip leader Nigel Farage said Mr Clegg’s comments showed he was “rattled” by the news that Mr Sykes was to support the party.

Mr Sykes, a former Conservative Party backer, is promising to bankroll Ukip’s campaign in an election in which it is already expected to do well.

The Yorkshire businessman, who has previously been estimated to be worth £650m, has given no indication of how much he is prepared to donate other than to say he will do “whatever it takes” to ensure it is the largest UK party in the European parliament.

In his last significant foray into the political arena he donated a reported £1.5m to Ukip’s 2004 European election campaign. His backing helped secure a stunning result for the party which quadrupled its number of seats from three to 12. This time round, he has said he wants to increase pressure to bring forward the in/out referendum on EU membership which David Cameron has promised for 2017.

His intervention will heighten concerns in the Tory ranks that increased support for Ukip could scupper any hopes they have of securing an outright majority in the next general election in 2015.

“I believe we have one last chance to stop the gradual erosion of our national independence. And that chance comes with the European elections,” said Mr Sykes in a statement.

“If, as I hope and believe, Ukip score a stunning national victory, then the leaders of the other main parties will have no choice but to abandon their slavish support for the EU.

“Nigel Farage and Ukip are the last best hope for Britain. I am prepared to do whatever it takes to propel them to victory next year.”

Asked about the intervention, Mr Clegg said he was “relishing” the opportunity of taking on eurosceptics in the European elections on May 22, 2014.

The Liberal Democrat leader told a Press conference in Whitehall: “I think the view represented by Ukip, large parts of the Conservative Party and Paul Sykes is a betrayal of the national interest and an unpatriotic approach because it would leave many people poorer, it would leave us weaker as a country and it would throw many people out of work, and I can’t possibly see why anyone thinks that that is something that in any way represents the long-term national interest.”

Mr Farage responded: “These ridiculous comments from Mr Clegg demonstrate just how worried the pro-EU establishment are becoming.

“The news that Paul Sykes will be supporting the Ukip European Election campaign clearly has them worried and already we’re seeing pathetic attacks of this nature.

“All three old parties want Britain’s laws to be made somewhere else, and they are all in favour of opening the doors to Romania and Bulgaria next year.

“Only Ukip stands up for Britain.

“The British people will have the opportunity to have their voice heard next year.

“They can either vote to stay in the EU with Clegg, Cameron and Miliband or for Ukip who want Britain to leave.”