Conservative Leadership In Europe Is Back
Birmingham, 6th October 2010
Speaking to the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham on Wednesday, the leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, warned of a new wave of Socialism across the EU, and called on the forces of the centre and centre-right to continue to build their own coalition to defeat it.
He said:
"Our new group, the European Conservatives and Reformists, is little more than twelve months old but we can already report on a year of real achievement. David Cameron’s vision of a new political force in European politics is being realised: a movement for reform offering a new vibrant vision of a decentralised, free market Europe respecting the rights of its member states.
"And now of course the work of our new group has been reinforced by our new government in the UK. Reform in Europe is gathering momentum. And not before time. It is overdue and desperately needed to meet the global challenges we face.
"What we need is a re-invigorated transatlantic alliance, a renewed Commonwealth, and a re-focused European Union. And that is what the European Conservative and Reformist Group is all about: Eurorealism.
"Coalition-building may be relatively new to all of us today in Britain but it is of course a fact of life in the European Parliament. By having clear objectives, a strong voice and a willingness to cooperate, we are winning arguments and rallying support from elsewhere in the Parliament. We have already broken the mould of European politics. We can now rally believers in the free-market across the centre and right of the Parliament to promote vital economic reform.
"Old-style socialism is back with a vengeance here and across the whole continent. It poses a threat to our economic and political future and so we cannot and must not stand aside: we must ensure that we are equal to the task of defeating it once and for all.
"We face enormous challenges in Britain, in Europe, and across the globe. But with commitment and confidence, this can be a time of opportunity - a time to restore our country's fortunes at home and to re-assert its values throughout the world.
"In Europe and the World, British leadership, Conservative Leadership, is back."
Notes: the full speech is below:
Conference,
Our new group, the European Conservatives and Reformists, is little more than twelve months old but we can already report on a year of real achievement. David Cameron’s vision of a new political force in European politics is being realised: a movement for reform offering a new vibrant vision of a decentralised, free market Europe respecting the rights of its member states. We are now setting a new agenda:
• by leading the campaign to end Parliament’s meetings in Strasbourg;
• by fighting additional burdens of red tape and over-regulation on British businesses;
• by ensuring the City of London get a fair deal in the financial services package;
• by winning arguments against waste and fighting to control the EU budget;
And now of course the work of our new group has been reinforced by our new government in the UK. Reform in Europe is gathering momentum. And not before time. It is overdue and desperately needed to meet the global challenges we face.
For three hundred years, the most economically powerful nations were also the most liberal - countries committed to the rule of law, the rights of individuals, constitutional government and, ultimately, to democracy itself. Together time and again, we were able to defeat the revolutionary and totalitarian threats we faced.
But things have changed.
As recently as 1980 the West had over one half of global GDP. Soon it will approach one third - a downward trend that will continue well into this century.
The reality is that a new kind of state-driven capitalist system in countries like China and Russia now poses a massive challenge.
And we also face the ever present danger of those who operate outside the law and the control of any state - pursuing their authoritarian ambitions in the name of religion though terror.
So we must work towards a world were the benefits of economic growth are shared, but go hand in hand with democratic development.
What we need is a re-invigorated transatlantic alliance, a renewed Commonwealth, and a re-focused European Union.
And that is what the European Conservative and Reformist Group is all about: Eurorealism.
Your Conservative MEPs are dedicated to this goal and I am proud of the work they have accomplished on your behalf. The ECR has established itself as a pivotal force in the European Parliament and in the other institutions of the European Union. We alone offer a clear message and a coherent programme of reform. And our impact is growing by the day. Our role has been crucial in a range of decisions from the election of the President of the Commission to the development of new initiatives for the internal market.
Of course we cannot do this alone.
Coalition-building may be relatively new to all of us today in Britain but it is of course a fact of life in the European Parliament.
By having clear objectives, a strong voice and a willingness to cooperate, we are winning arguments and rallying support from elsewhere in the Parliament. We have already broken the mould of European politics. We can now rally believers in the free-market across the centre and right of the Parliament to promote vital economic reform.
The work we are doing in Brussels offers the way forward for Europe that it has so far lacked. We are in the vanguard of an exciting fresh start after literally years of institutional wrangling.
As well as having experience of coalition-building, we also have experience of dealing every day with backward-looking, old-fashioned socialists with a dangerous belief in an over-powerful role for the state, who are beholden to the vested interests of the public sector and to unrealistic and unreasonable trade unions. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Ed Miliband would feel quite at home.
And talking of the Milibands – poor David…. losing to your younger brother….having to step aside from the front bench…Ladies and Gentlemen - that’s got to be the first time a politician has quit to spend less time with his family.
Ladies & Gentlemen, old-style socialism is back with a vengeance here and across the whole continent. It poses a threat to our economic and political future and so we cannot and must not stand aside: we must ensure that we are equal to the task of defeating it once and for all.
At last Britain now has again in William Hague a Foreign Secretary respected throughout the world. Ably supported by David Lidington, counterparts across Europe know that we are open to cooperation when it makes sense but will remain firm in the defence of British interests and resolute in defending our political principles.
And at European summits, David Cameron is transforming the debate there as he has transformed it here – taking the lead:
- on sorting out public finances and building a sustainable economy;
- on promoting international development and the global environment; and
- on expanding economic opportunity and global trade.
Our Group, our Conservative MEPs, inspired by his vision and beliefs - will support him all the way.
We face enormous challenges in Britain, in Europe, and across the globe. But with commitment and confidence, this can be a time of opportunity - a time to restore our country's fortunes at home and to re-assert its values throughout the world.
Ladies & Gentlemen – in Europe and the World, British leadership, Conservative Leadership, is back.
