Saturday 19th December
David Cameron is very good at fighting talk. He is always out there batting for Britain’s best interests. Or so he claims. And when he does not get his own way he is quite willing to tuck his bat under his arm and deftly swiping the bails into his hand declare himself out. Or so he claims. And if the press reports are to be believed he is in fighting mood in Brussels. The trouble is that neither he nor many British Prime Ministers have ever begun to understand Europe. It grew out of the chaos at the end of the Second World War where both victors and defeated were determined never to see such carnage on our continent again. The weapons were too destructive, the losses too great to bear, the stench of death hung over the continent – and so they set about creating a new Europe, where national boundaries were less important than collective security. And Europe had always been about compromise. How could it be otherwise if 6, and then increasing gradually to 28 countries were ever going to agree on anything. And despite it all, despite the Greek debt crisis, despite the Unification of Germany, despite the Accession of East European nations, despite disaffection and rows – Europe is still there. And it is still, and even more so, about compromise.
So, where are we now in relation to David Cameron’s famous renegotiation? Well, according to Cameron a pathway has been laid out for resolution of his demands, but according to most of the press he has been given the coldest of shoulders, and his demands kicked into the long grass. Besides they have far more important issues to grapple with; the massive influx of refugees, the leaky nature of Schengen, and always with us, the Greek debt crisis rumbles on. I am sure that almost all of the other countries do not want us to leave. But, they will not simply give in either (or where would we be if every petty grievance became a crisis). Mr. Cameron will have to either soften his demands or accept that he will not get what he wants. And their calculation is that it is unlikely for Britain to actually vote to leave the EU, and even if we do, that is better than giving in to a petulant child that has never really understood the nature of sharing anyway.
But Dave will heave a sigh of relief and slowly our demands will be altered (or altered for us) and eventually a great compromise will be reached where nothing very much will change. Then the referendum, where I suspect very few voters will change their minds because of it, and despite Dave a narrow victory will be achieved. Anyway, I bloody well hope so.