Douglas Carswell's Blog

Britain needs credible deal makers in Brussels

David Cameron deserves support for his decision in Brussels last week. 

When he arrived at the summit, he had every intention of signing on the dotted line - with a few opt outs for the City -  as advised by his chief EU negotiators.  This team of diplomatic deal makers - known as UKREP - had spent weeks trying to convince ministers that such a deal was the best possible outcome for Britain.

Merkozy's refusal to agree to even those absurdly generous terms, scuppered the prospect of the UKREP-authored agreement.  It left the Prime Minister with no choice but to say "no" - and raises serious questions about the judgment of Britain's top diplomatic staff.

When the Prime Minister said "no", he didn't just call Merkozy's bluff.  Cameron called time on those top UK officials who for years have seen it as their role to split the difference between what British ministers want and what the Eurosystem will allow.

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