UK & World News
- 31 October 2012, 8:40
EU Budget: Cameron Faces Commons Showdown
Prime Minister David Cameron faces an embarrassing Commons defeat later today when MPs debate the EU budget.
A rebellion is brewing on the Tory backbenches because eurosceptics want the budget cut, while the PM plans to go no further than to demand a real-terms freeze, an inflation-only rise of a little over 2% a year.
The budget will cover the period 2014 - 2020.
Some in Brussels are calling for a budget increase of nearly 7% - at a time when the EU is demanding draconian austerity measures from Greece and other countries worst hit by the eurozone crisis.
This has been like a red rag to a bull to the Tory right, who are organising a Commons ambush.
Tory MPs Mark Pritchard and Mark Reckless will need 40 others to rebel with them to bring about a Government defeat if, as expected, Labour votes against the Government with the pro-European Lib Dems supporting Mr Cameron.
Past performance suggests they will fall short, but they could come close with MPs like Bill Cash and John Redwood garnering support for their cause and urging Mr Cameron not to "cave in" to pressure from Europe.
One eurosceptic Tory MP is even using the argument that a Commons rebellion will strengthen Mr Cameron's hand when he goes into the budget negotiations in Brussels next month.
The Prime Minister is beset on all sides - not only the right of his own party but also from Ukip which is attracting disillusioned Tory eurosceptics, and of course from Labour.
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls and shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander used an article in The Times on Monday to demand a cut in the EU budget.
Tony Blair, who still seems to harbour some ambition to become Europe's first elected president, warned there is now a serious risk that the EU could break up.
He urged his party, and others, "not to play short-term politics with this issue" - but the temptation to do so will, needless to say, prove irresistible for some.
Update:
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what do you think?
Russell Beaumont
Now where is all this brave talk about standing up to Europe we've been hearing every few weeks since he's been in office? He now has a golden opportunity to stand up and not cede to demands of the Brussels mafia, but just you see he will roll over belly up and give them what they want. As for the back bench rebellion sounds more like a whispering campaign to me They've got no stomach for real politcs all they want to do is milk the system for all its worth whilst their 5 year ride on the gravy train lasts. It makes no difference who you vote for you get the same. Why at the most critical phase of our history is the Gov.stuffed with boot lickers self servers and spivs?
leslie lee
SHORT TERM POLICIES ???? THATS WHAT ALL GOVERNMENTS ARE DOING / HAVE DONE / WILL ALWAYS DO !!
Alec Spencer
David, when will you understand that most of the people in this Country want to see the back of the EU - please please give us the referendum as soon as possible. As one of your Witney voters, it will definitely be UKIP next time.
TIM x
The contribution should be nil. Because the only way forward for the UK is OUT
Malcolm Charlesworth
Think about it. Britain and may be three other countries pay more into the EU than they get out of it. They will always be outvoted by the others who are net recipients of EU cash. That's what the EU is about- the redistribution of wealth throughout the EU. Those who get more have no sense of responsibility. Yes they want more. Who wouldn't in their position. They have the keys to the candy cupboard.
shaun spencer
The euro ship is sinking fast let us rats abondon it while we still can.
john
As we are now a client state of the USA there is no chance that the Americans will allow us to leave the EU, we are their veto in the EU. No one sees the elephant in the room, why do we have foreign troops on British soil?
john
Cat got your tongues? why do you think that the head of the CIA London office has the last say in any British Government security meeting? Just ignore the great big star spangled elephant in the room. It isn't the EU that sends British troops to die in American wars.
Viv hanshall
The four largest net contributors in absolute terms are:. Germany, France, Italy, UK The four largest net contributors in per capita terms are: Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy. The four largest net contributors as a proportion of GDP are : Denmark, Italy, Germany, Finland.
Viv hanshall
At ?4.7bn, Britain was the third-biggest net contributor to the budget in 2011. Britain also received a ?3.6bn rebate last year, paid for by other EU countries, which share the cost proportionally. Last year, France contributed almost ?1bn to Britain's rebate, while Italy contrbuted ?718m
TIM x
Lots of deluded europhiles around voting comments down I see. Get a grip! Do you want your country run by Westminster or the fourth Reich?
Russell Beaumont
Good comment Tim, Can't remember the last time I've heard a credible input from any of them they're just voting fodder who cant think for themselves. Although someone is taking. the time to organise them.
john
We are run by the USA.
Jonathan Goodwin-Self
Cameron will do a 3 line whip but he will lose the vote because he is a europhiles man and he supports Lib Dems on everything and nothing for his party and therefore there could be a vote that the Government is wrong. Then all should vote UKIP because he wants us to be ruled by Brussels
Viv hanshall
We are not 'ruled by Brussels' and neither is there any danger of a 'fourth Reich' The annual EU budget is decided by elected politicians, in the European Parliament and in the Council that brings together the Member States. The Commission only proposes the budget, and has to respect the ceilings set out for a period of time (currently 2007-2013) by these elected politicians.
David Francis
Viv - they can paint the impression of democracy in the EU but in truth there is none. You are only allowed to vote for the answer they want. All these councils and commissions are a smoke screen to hide the fact that this is now the ESSR.
Viv hanshall
Turnout across Europe (1999) was higher than in the last US presidential election, and I don't hear people questioning the legitimacy of the presidency of the United States
David Francis
Completely irrelevant to any argument here!
Viv hanshall
We are discussing democracy so I am giving examples of democracy in action in the EU. Why don't you give some examples of how the EU resembles the USSR?
David Francis
Viv - don't ask me - ask the people of France, The Netherlands and Ireland who gave the wrong answer and had to be 'asked' again to give the right one.
Viv hanshall
No, I am asking you. You made the claim that the EU is like the USSR so I am asking you to give me some examples where the EU resembles the USSR.
David Francis
What part of 'wrong answer - vote again till you get it right' don't you understand?
Viv hanshall
The European Union plays little direct role in areas involving government spending or direct administration: social welfare provision, health care, pensions, active cultural policy, education, law and order, family policy, and most infrastructure provision ? and this is most of what modern states do. Other areas of EU activity, such as immigration, defense, indirect taxation, foreign policy, consumer protection, remain modest compared to comparable national powers. Even within core EU economic areas, studies reveal, Brussels only rarely dominates national activity. The overall percentage of national laws that originate in Brussels total no more than around 10-20% So no fear of 'fourth Reich' or Soviet Style EU.
David Francis
You're on their payroll aren't you!
leslie lee
SOFTLY SOFTLY CATCHEE MONKEY ........... obviously the unelected in brussels keep having votes UNTIL they get the majority upper hand ............. and it is blind obedience from people such as yourself viv that give them cause to keep on the way they are ....... if europe is such a wonderful idea why do you not take your family and clear off over there .............. and leave those that cherish their hard won freedom to decide their own destiny THEMSELVES !
Viv hanshall
This despotic European "technocracy" is as much of a myth as the European "superstate". First, the EU lacks the capacities of a modern state. It cannot tax and spend, coerce, or implement. Its tax base is miniscule, totaling under 2% of European public spending, over which officials enjoy little discretion, since broad spending priorities are laid down by interstate consensus or, occasionally, by the Parliament. The EU has no army, police or intelligence capacity. Its bureaucracy totals some 20-30,000 officials, of which perhaps 1/4 are actually decision-makers ? an administration equaling that of a medium-sized European city.
leslie lee
WHAT SORT OF GOVERNMENT SPONSORED PLEB ARE YOU ????
leslie lee
MYTH ?...... then you are both blind and foolish viv........ when a conglomerate of nations are initially governed by a quango of unelected ... and thus ......hidden self righteous and probably very rich people ...... then a country that has freedom at its very basis is more than just a thorn in its side ................... preventing various very different cultures to decide their own destiny will lead ...once again... to a nationalistic uprising of very likely 3rd world war proportions ............. E V E N T U A L L Y !!
leslie lee
spoken like the britain hating pleb you are !! WE BRITISH SUBJECTS HAVE EVERY RIGHT IN THE WORLD TO DECIDE WHO WE ACTUALLY WANT TO RULE US ....................... AND THE MAJORITY WILL WANT BRITAIN TO LOOK AFTER ITS OWN FIRST AND FOREMOST ........... NOT THE WORLDS HANGERS ON WHO, WILL SIMPLY SIT BACK AND WAIL THAT IT IS /WAS COLONIALISM OR SUCH THAT HAS LEFT THEM UNWILLING AND UNABLE TO PROVIDE A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING .......... AND EARNING .... FOR THEMSELVES
Bazil Brush
7:37am on 31/10/2012
president blair... never ending nightmare