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Cameron Seeks to Calm Party on Europe Vote Cameron Seeks to Calm Party on Europe Vote
(about 2 hours later)
LONDON — Prime Minister David Cameron tried once again to quell mounting dissent within his party over Britain’s place in the European Union, publishing a draft law on Tuesday that promises a referendum on British membership in the bloc by the end of 2017.LONDON — Prime Minister David Cameron tried once again to quell mounting dissent within his party over Britain’s place in the European Union, publishing a draft law on Tuesday that promises a referendum on British membership in the bloc by the end of 2017.
But many Conservative lawmakers are still likely to embarrass Mr. Cameron on Wednesday by voting to criticize his government’s stance on Britain’s ties to Europe, highlighting how the issue has provoked turmoil within his party and a profound split at the heart of his coalition government.But many Conservative lawmakers are still likely to embarrass Mr. Cameron on Wednesday by voting to criticize his government’s stance on Britain’s ties to Europe, highlighting how the issue has provoked turmoil within his party and a profound split at the heart of his coalition government.
Britain’s allies worry that it is moving toward an exit from the union; on Monday, President Obama urged Britons not to give up on their membership in the 27-nation bloc without first seeking to improve it.Britain’s allies worry that it is moving toward an exit from the union; on Monday, President Obama urged Britons not to give up on their membership in the 27-nation bloc without first seeking to improve it.
Even though Conservatives know how internal fights over Europe damaged their previous governments in the 1990s, the issue refuses to go away.Even though Conservatives know how internal fights over Europe damaged their previous governments in the 1990s, the issue refuses to go away.
Mr. Cameron has gone further than any of his predecessors by pledging to negotiate a looser relationship between Britain and the European Union, and then hold an “in out” referendum on British membership if he wins the next elections in 2015.Mr. Cameron has gone further than any of his predecessors by pledging to negotiate a looser relationship between Britain and the European Union, and then hold an “in out” referendum on British membership if he wins the next elections in 2015.
But his stance has failed to satisfy hard-line Conservative critics, leaving the prime minister trapped between those in his own party who want to move faster toward an exit from the union and his junior coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats, who want Britain to stay in.But his stance has failed to satisfy hard-line Conservative critics, leaving the prime minister trapped between those in his own party who want to move faster toward an exit from the union and his junior coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats, who want Britain to stay in.
Dissent has been building among Conservative lawmakers since Mr. Cameron failed to include the referendum promise in a list of draft laws outlined in a legislative program delivered last week by Queen Elizabeth II.Dissent has been building among Conservative lawmakers since Mr. Cameron failed to include the referendum promise in a list of draft laws outlined in a legislative program delivered last week by Queen Elizabeth II.
Mr. Cameron’s critics wanted him to do so to show how serious he is about holding the plebiscite. But such a step would have been vetoed by the Liberal Democrats.Mr. Cameron’s critics wanted him to do so to show how serious he is about holding the plebiscite. But such a step would have been vetoed by the Liberal Democrats.
Hoping to defuse the dispute, the Conservatives published the draft legislation, which said that a referendum must be held before Dec. 31, 2017, and that the “question that is to appear on the ballot papers is ‘Do you think that the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union?’ ”Hoping to defuse the dispute, the Conservatives published the draft legislation, which said that a referendum must be held before Dec. 31, 2017, and that the “question that is to appear on the ballot papers is ‘Do you think that the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union?’ ”
The move is largely symbolic because the bill has almost no chance of passing Parliament without the official support of the government.The move is largely symbolic because the bill has almost no chance of passing Parliament without the official support of the government.
And although Mr. Cameron’s move won over a handful of potential critics, dozens of Conservative lawmakers are expected to vote Wednesday for a parliamentary motion criticizing the government for failing to include a referendum bill in the queen’s speech.And although Mr. Cameron’s move won over a handful of potential critics, dozens of Conservative lawmakers are expected to vote Wednesday for a parliamentary motion criticizing the government for failing to include a referendum bill in the queen’s speech.
Opposition politicians say that Mr. Cameron has lost control of his party over the issue of Europe, just as the last Conservative prime minister, John Major, did in the 1990s. They argue that Conservative critics of the European Union are determined to quit the bloc and therefore will not be satisfied by any concessions short of an exit. Opposition politicians say that Mr. Cameron has lost control of his party over the issue, just as the last Conservative prime minister, John Major, did in the 1990s. They argue that Conservative critics of the European Union are determined to quit the bloc and therefore will not be satisfied by any concessions short of an exit.
But Mr. Cameron rejected the charge, telling the BBC that his “act of leadership” in making the referendum pledge had kick-started the current debate on Europe. But Mr. Cameron rejected the charge, telling the BBC that his “act of leadership” in making the referendum pledge had kick-started the current debate on the European Union.
He said that differences with the Liberal Democrats over Europe were well known, but that his policy would win votes.He said that differences with the Liberal Democrats over Europe were well known, but that his policy would win votes.
“When the dust settles on this, what people will see is one party, the Conservative Party, offering this very clear, very compelling choice in the national interest, reforming the E.U., changing Britain’s relationship with it and giving people the chance of an in-out referendum,” Mr. Cameron said.“When the dust settles on this, what people will see is one party, the Conservative Party, offering this very clear, very compelling choice in the national interest, reforming the E.U., changing Britain’s relationship with it and giving people the chance of an in-out referendum,” Mr. Cameron said.
Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury and a Liberal Democrat cabinet minister, highlighted his party’s more pro-European stance.Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury and a Liberal Democrat cabinet minister, highlighted his party’s more pro-European stance.
“During this Parliament we will exercise our influence to the utmost to win the arguments in Britain’s national interest in favor of jobs, investment and growth in this country,” Mr. Alexander said.“During this Parliament we will exercise our influence to the utmost to win the arguments in Britain’s national interest in favor of jobs, investment and growth in this country,” Mr. Alexander said.
The anti-European mood among Conservative lawmakers has intensified in recent months because of the rise of the populist U.K. Independence Party, which wants Britain to leave the European Union and place strict controls on immigration. The mood among Conservative lawmakers against the European Union has intensified in recent months because of the rise of the populist U.K. Independence Party, which wants Britain to leave the bloc and place strict controls on immigration.