Cameron’s ‘realistic’ plan B for Europe

Just back from David Cameron’s press conference unveiling plan B on Europe post the Czech’s ratifying Lisbon.

It all sounds to me like a downgrading and diluting of existing policy on Europe with a bit of chaff thrown up for the Euro-sceptics (namely, a Sovereignty Act which, we are told, establishes the supremacy of UK law over EU law – m’learned friends say it’s probably a bit more difficult than that).

David Cameron says it is “realistic, reasonable and do-able.” It’ll still scare some in Whitehall who’ve watched with mounting horror the Tories’ European agenda, but they’ll sleep better tonight than before.

As for the referendum, David Cameron is now saying there will be no referendum on anything European in the next Parliament. He will be too busy with other priorities and a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty would be pointless.

You get the impression he watched overnight to see the range and calibre of voices raised in opposition to his dropping of the Lisbon referendum and felt he could slap them down strongly today – he calls a post-ratification referendum on Lisbon a “phoney,” money-wasting idea.

Some in Brussels and other European capitals will be sleeping better tonight as well. David Cameron still wants to repatriate some powers but says he is not looking for a “bust up.”

Today Tory policy changed emphasis.

The party has been through a great journey in opposition, from stopping European integration the emphasis moved to making a grab back from Brussels of already devolved powers.

The key phrase in David Cameron’s speech today was “never again.”

The party emphasis has not returned to stopping moves towards closer union not unpicking what has passed. There is still some of the latter in the mix – a push to repatriate powers that will take a very long time to get anywhere.

But the emphasis has changed. This is David Cameron signalling to Whitehall, Brussels, his party and voters that he is not a fanatic on Euro issues.