Quote:
"Senior Conservative backbencher" Bernard Jenkin thus has the measure of the man. According to the Evening Standard, he says: "This is a retreat. What is the difference between refusing to sign the treaty of 27 and then allowing the hijacking of the EU institutions with a treaty of 17 plus?"
Are the Tories revolting?
Jenkin was one of the Maastricht rebels.
Trying to see things from the point of view of the Tories, there's no point being part of the EU unless we are also part of the Eurozone, because that's what's calling the shots, but joining the Euro is not possible and there's a distinct possibility it might collapse. Cameron's antics and balancing act (much in the Tory tradition) are looking increasingly dodgy and there's a stink chance that instead of satisfying a demand for action, they'll stimulate it.
This may be among the first signs of a large and ponderous collective mind, the Parliamentary Conservative Party, being lead to a conclusion it really doesn't want to face, in or out of the EU, no messing about talking about reform, and in isn't the comfy option it once seemed.
That said, I don't have any faith in a genuine revolt in the Conservative party, or them changing their pro-EU stance, any time soon.
