'In Our Interest: Britain with Europe'
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‘IN OUR INTEREST: BRITAIN WITH EUROPE’ Robert Buckland MP, Rt. Hon. Damian Green MP, Margot James MP, Jeremy Lefroy MP, Rt. Hon. Sir James Paice DL MP, Neil Carmichael MP, Charles Hendry MP, Sir Peter Luff MP, Rt. Hon. Sir Richard Ottaway MP, Rt. Hon. Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG QC MP, Rt. Hon. Sir Tony Baldry MP, Richard Benyon MP, Rt. Hon. Alistair Burt MP, Rt. Hon. Stephen Dorrell MP, Tobias Ellwood MP, Ben Gummer MP, Laura Sandys MP, Rt. Hon. Caroline Spelman MP ‘IN OUR INTEREST: BRITAIN WITH EUROPE’ A series of articles by the mainstream of the Conservative Party. We are fundamentally united by our belief that the UK national interest is best served working for changes within the EU, not being marginalised at the fringes. This group believes that the nation would be best served by the Conservative Party campaigning for a ‘yes’ vote in any future in/out referendum. www.europeanmainstream.org.uk ‘IN OUR INTEREST: BRITAIN WITH EUROPE’ Follow us on Twitter at: @EU_Mainstream www.europeanmainstream.org.uk TABLE OF CONTENTS UK Prosperity Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: The Single Market p. 8 Robert Buckland MP A Growing Britain in a Reformed EU p. 10 Rt. Hon. Damian Green MP Trading with our Neighbours p. 12 Margot James MP Who Controls UK Public Expenditure? p. 14 Jeremy Lefroy MP Reforming the Common Agricultural Policy p. 16 Rt. Hon. Sir James Paice DL MP www.europeanmainstream.org.uk The UK Abroad Britain With Europe TABLE OF CONTENTS Energy Security in Europe p. 20 The European Veto p. 32 Neil Carmichael MP Rt. Hon. Sir Tony Baldry MP Powering Europe p. 22 Reform – I’ve Done It p. 34 Charles Hendry MP Richard Benyon MP European Defence and our National Interest p. 24 An Argument for Europe p. 36 Sir Peter Luff MP Rt. Hon. Alistair Burt MP British Influence in Europe and Beyond p. 26 Leading in Europe p. 38 Rt. Hon. Sir Richard Ottaway MP Rt. Hon. Stephen Dorrell MP Working Together Abroad p. 28 Managing Migration p. 40 Rt. Hon. Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG QC MP Tobias Ellwood MP Bringing Democracy Back to Europe p. 42 Ben Gummer MP ‘Greedy for Britain’ - EU Plus p. 44 Laura Sandys MP Better Off IN p. 46 Rt. Hon. Caroline Spelman MP www.europeanmainstream.org.uk UK PROSPERITY Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: The Single Market Robert Buckland MP A Growing Britain in a Reformed EU Rt. Hon. Damian Green MP Trading with our Neighbours Margot James MP Who Controls UK Public Expenditure? Jeremy Lefroy MP Reforming the Common Agricultural Policy Rt. Hon. Sir James Paice DL MP www.europeanmainstream.org.uk UK PROSPERITY Follow us on Twitter at: @EU_Mainstream www.europeanmainstream.org.uk JOBS, JOBS, JOBS: THE SINGLE MARKET Robert Buckland MP As the German Chancellor, Angela Across Europe we are facing many Merkel, has said before, Europe has of the same challenges: how to 7% of the world’s population, 25% reform pensions and healthcare in of its GDP and 50% of its welfare the long term; opening up services spending. The standard of living to competition; reforming our la- across Europe is the envy of the bour markets; and clamping down developing world, but it could easily on ‘gold-plating’ regulations. Our slip away if we do not work together greatest focus, however, should be For far too long, the domestic de- to meet the competitive challenge on completing the Single Market. bate about Britain’s involvement with posed by economic giants such This would give the EU a substan- the EU has focused upon process as China, India and Brazil. Without tial boost: a single digital market- and procedure. We have sent mixed reform the EU will grow at just 1.5% place could single-handedly boost messages to our European partners per year over the next decade; Europe’s economy by over 4% about our intentions, and have failed China is currently growing at 9.5% between now and 2020. Complet- to link the debate to the reality of life per year. ing the Single Market in energy or for British businesses and commu- in services could do even more to nities. As memories of the Second boost the EU’s competitiveness in World War and the Soviet threat re- EU membership is this global era. cede, we need to find a new focus for the EU. I believe that the need part of the Swindon has the highest percent- to be competitive in a truly global age of foreign-owned firms in the economy should be at the heart of a fabric of life in my whole country. We look out to the positive case for the EU. constituency wider world, and many of our local businesses, large and small, trade JOBS, JOBS, JOBS: THE SINGLE MARKET daily within the EU. We understand game. Withdrawal from a market of that foreign direct investment and 500 million people with a value of Robert Buckland MP is exports are the key to a strong, sus- about £11 trillion would be a wrong Member of Parliament for tainable economy. The EU’s single turning for Britain. Let’s recognise South Swindon and a Recorder greatest achievement, the Single that when Britain takes a lead in of the Crown Court, sitting on Market, was brought into being by Europe, we get results. the Midland Circuit. He is a British Conservatives. It is this which member of the Joint Committee provides an economic baseload on Human Rights and the for a country that is facing fierce Commons Committees on competition from a fast developing Standards and Privileges. world. As David Lidington has said, Robert is also the Chairman since 1992 the Single Market alone of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, increased the EU’s prosperity by Joint Secretary of the 1922 1.85% of GDP and created about Committee and the chair of the 2.75 million extra jobs. All-Party Parliamentary Group on the European Union. EU membership is part of the fabric of life in my constituency. The EU de- bate must always be a hard-headed discussion about what is best for our economy, our businesses and our families, not some political parlour ‘In Our Interest: Britain with Europe’, p. 9 A GROWING BRITAIN IN A REFORMED EU Rt. Hon. Damian Green MP public in a serious debate about our fu- dramatically deeper integration than ture, and I believe that we can win not others. This need has already been only the economic argument, but also recognised in countries including capture the idealism of young people Germany and Italy. The Chancellor also for an outward-looking European future, made wider points about the benefits just as happened in the 1970s. Bring it for Britain of successful action by the on. EU. The free trade agreements with Canada, Korea and Singapore point I have supported our full and enthu- For the moment, though, we need to the way to a more prosperous future. siastic membership of the EU since as start making the basic economic case Thirteen countries have signed up to a student I campaigned for a Yes vote that we are Better Off In. Of course Britain’s programme for cutting red in the previous referendum in 1975. there needs to be serous reform, and tape. The most recent budget deal, The broad arguments about greater one of the tasks of Conservatives with a real terms cut for the first time, prosperity and Britain’s influence in who maintain good relations with cen- is not only the sort of policy change the wider world from participation in tre-right politicians from other European which will be supported by British Europe are as strong now as they were countries is to develop a series of ideas Conservatives, but won support from a then, but we need to make them in which will benefit all EU Members in- wide collation of countries. every generation, so that people can cluding Britain when the reform pro- see their relevance in the vastly differ- gramme is fully formulated. There are even more important oppor- ent modern world. tunities ahead which will make Britain This will include, as George Osborne more prosperous and which are only This means that I do not agree with pointed out in his January Speech available through our membership of those of my pro-European friends who to Open Europe, a new ability for the the EU. The greatest of these is the dislike the prospect of a referendum. EU to cope with a European Union Transatlantic Trade and Investment I welcome the chance to engage the where some members are pursuing Partnership (TTIP). This would be a A GROWING BRITAIN IN A REFORMED EU genuinely historic deal, allowing free These arguments and more will be trade between the EU and USA, cov- made by patriotic pro-European Damian Green is Member for ering economies which account for Conservatives in the years to come. In Ashford and was appointed nearly half of global output and a third the 1975 campaign Margaret Thatcher Minister of State for Policing of trade flows. summed up the underlying argument. and Criminal Justice in 2012. She said “The choice is clear. We can Damian is also Vice-President play a role in developing Europe, or we of the Tory Reform Group. The best setting for can turn our backs on the Community. Britain’s entrepreneurial By turning our backs we would forfeit our right to influence what happens in spirits to flourish is a the Community. But what happens in reformed EU the Community will inevitably affect us.” It was true in 1975 and it will be true in This is just one reason why an ev- 2017 and beyond.