Robert Sturdy urges fellow MEPs not to interfere
The words “rebellion” and “Tory” were used in the same newspaper headline today. It was a report about the proposed withdrawal from the EPP, and two conflicting views of MEPs from the Eastern Region.
Christopher Beeley said he wouldn’t quit even if ordered to by David Cameron while Geoffrey Van Orden threatening to quit with others in September if the Conservative leader reneges on his promise.
The newspaper headline (for some reason a different one is used online) warns of a whiff of rebllion among the Tory rank. To summarise:
Mr Beazley believes that two-thirds of Tory Euro MPs don’t want to quit the EPP. “If am ordered to leave the EPP, I will refuse. I have made it plain to David Cameron that that is my position and I am sticking to it.”
Mr Van Orden has slightly moderated his position over the weekend. Although signing the letter which says he has “every intentionâ€? of leaving the EPP, he said yesterday. “I will do whatever David Cameron wants me to do.”
So where does my MEP Robert Sturdy stand on this issue? He firmly believes that fellow MEPs should not interfere with the delicate negotiations.
He warned: “These people should not be saying anything at the moment. It is up to David Cameron and WilliamHague to make a decision and MEPs should not interfere and try to pressurise them and create problems.
“The party should be standing together on this and should not be divided, the public doesn’t like it. It only splits the party which people don’t want to see.”
Robert said the ideal scenario would be if they could link up with a like minded group such as the Civil Democratic Party in the Czech Republic. On their own they would be have no clout. And how effective would that be in serving their constituents?
The aims of the EPP and the Conservative party are very different. Many of us will give David Cameron more time. But not forever.
Threats of defections and resignations do the party damage, but so does an ongoing hypocrisy of membership of the EPP. Dave should bite the bullet soon. Its going to be difficult whatever he does, and it will be worse if he puts it of ( to coincide with a Brown snap general election for example ).
EPP loving MEPs should consider their options, there is a political party for Euro Federalists in the UK – its the Liberal Democrats.
On their own they would be have no clout. And how effective would that be in serving their constituents?
I disagree with this basic premise.
Since being expelled from the EPP, one of our own elected Conservative MEPs has been doing a sterling job keeping his constituents informed about what the European Commission and Parliament have been doing and, what is more, he now has access to a much greater amount of European Parliamentary funding to promote the Conservative Party’s stance on Europe.
Robert really is the only sensible Tory MEP in Eastern Region. Always thought so.
I would agree that our group should withdraw from EPP, but threats from MEPs on either side of the debate aren’t helpful.