Conservative Party's New EU Pledge (2009)

David Cameron's 2009 Promise to Hold Referendums on EU Matters

Nov 5, 2009

David Cameron has promised that no British powers would be handed over to the EU without a referendum. The announcement comes following criticism of his EU policies.

On Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative Party stated that no British powers would be transferred to the European Union without a referendum.

Conservative Party EU Policy Changes

The leader of the opposition said that all future treaties would be put to the public. The announcement came as part of the Conservative Party's new EU policy, following the Czech Republic's ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

Before Vaclav Klaus agreed to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, Cameron had said he would hold a public vote on the subject if the Conservative Party are voted into power in next year's (2010) general election. However, Klaus, the President of the Czech Republic signed the Treaty on Nov. 3, 2009. Klaus' signing means the Treaty will now come into effect on Dec. 1, 2009.

Mr Cameron unveiled a new set of policies regarding the EU which included the new ratification policy. He also pledged to repatriate powers regarding employment, criminal law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Along with the EU referendum announcement, Mr Cameron declared that if the Conservative Party were voted into power, they would create a sovereignty bill in an effort to preserve the supremacy of British law.

Reaction to Cameron's EU Announcrment

Pierre Lellouche, France's Minister for Europe attacked the news, stating that leaders of EU nations would not help the Conservatives to re-negotiate treaties. While speaking to The Guardian newspaper, Mr Lellouche accused the party of "castrating" Britain in regard to the EU, and warned that the plans would not succeed.

Two British Conservative Party Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have quite their frontbench positions in protest to Mr Cameron's announcement. Roger Helmer, one of the protesting Conservative Party MEPs has quit his position as the party's employment spokesman in Brussels whilst stating on his ConservativeHome blog that "Our new European policy is confused and essentially cosmetic- I cannot defend it from the frontbench."

Conservative Party's Reaction to Criticism

On the morning of Nov. 5, 2009, William Hague the Shadow foreign secretary and ex-head of the Conservative Party, hit back at the remarks made by Mr Lellouche the previous day.

Mr Hague declared that Mr Lellouche's views were not held by the rest of Europe, and stating that "We won't be put off by one emotional outburst from one minister." in a speech made on Nov. 5.

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