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05/11/2009
Top Tory Dismisses French EU Criticism
Senior Tory William Hague has rejected criticism from the French government minister who branded the UK party's revised EU policy "pathetic".
The Shadow Foreign Secretary said Pierre Lellouche's thoughts were not broadly supported in Europe, adding the Conservatives would not be put off by "one emotional outburst from one minister".
Conservative leader David Cameron has ditched plans to hold a Lisbon Treaty referendum, which he previously assured would happen should his party come to power next year.
The change in strategy was confirmed yesterday, amid growing speculation the treaty is nearing full ratification.
Instead the Tories have now claimed they will repatriate powers currently held in Brussels to Westminster.
Two of the party's Euro MPs have quit the front benches in protest.
Daniel Hannan, the Tory legal affairs spokesman in Brussels, said he had stepped down to concentrate on a referendum campaign.
Conservative employment spokesman at the European Parliament, Roger Helmer said his decision to resign rested with the change in policy tact.
"I can neither justify nor support our new EU policy," the MEP wrote in his blog.
Responding to the resignations Mr Hague said: "In a large party, you will always get one or two people who disagree but we can live with that."
He said the Conservatives would take the criticism from Mr Lellouche in their "stride".
Mr Hague said the party had expected to take a "bit of abuse" over the Lisbon issue.
Mr Lellouche, France's Europe Minister, accused the Tories of having a "bizarre autism" on the European Union.
(PR/BMcC)
The Shadow Foreign Secretary said Pierre Lellouche's thoughts were not broadly supported in Europe, adding the Conservatives would not be put off by "one emotional outburst from one minister".
Conservative leader David Cameron has ditched plans to hold a Lisbon Treaty referendum, which he previously assured would happen should his party come to power next year.
The change in strategy was confirmed yesterday, amid growing speculation the treaty is nearing full ratification.
Instead the Tories have now claimed they will repatriate powers currently held in Brussels to Westminster.
Two of the party's Euro MPs have quit the front benches in protest.
Daniel Hannan, the Tory legal affairs spokesman in Brussels, said he had stepped down to concentrate on a referendum campaign.
Conservative employment spokesman at the European Parliament, Roger Helmer said his decision to resign rested with the change in policy tact.
"I can neither justify nor support our new EU policy," the MEP wrote in his blog.
Responding to the resignations Mr Hague said: "In a large party, you will always get one or two people who disagree but we can live with that."
He said the Conservatives would take the criticism from Mr Lellouche in their "stride".
Mr Hague said the party had expected to take a "bit of abuse" over the Lisbon issue.
Mr Lellouche, France's Europe Minister, accused the Tories of having a "bizarre autism" on the European Union.
(PR/BMcC)
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