Douglas Carswell's Blog

Why our Euro policy is in such a muddle

When George Osborne announced that official government policy is to support the full fiscal integration of the Eurozone, several commentators seemed to think it was a terribly smart move. 

In return for "allowing" the Eurozone core to fuse into a single block, we could .... errrr .... well .... renegotiate fisheries policy. Or the working time whatsit.  Or something. 

The closer you look at it, the more this seems a case of clever tactics - but not such wise strategy.

Anthony Browne writing on ConHome this morning seems to have woken up to the danger; "fiscal integration in the Eurozone could seriously damage our national interest .... Eurozone countries could form a caucus ...the Eurozone 17 will get a qualified majority, meaning they can impose policy on the UK ....  We would be in the position of having to accept legislation on issues of vital national importance".  

Yep.  Supporting fiscal fusion is not such a clever move, is it?  

And it is not just a matter of diplomacy. How is it our national interest to see a monetary monster reduce many of our closest trading partners to ruin?

No one likes a smart aleck.  And "I told you so" is not a policy.  But you might at least start listening to those people who were telling you so.

Once again, our Europe policy is being determined by a wrong-headed Whitehall elite - with ministers happy to drift along with the muddle-mindedness.

Shades of ERM again?

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