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Europe: Conservatives are united, says Jeremy Hunt Europe: Conservatives are united, says Jeremy Hunt
(about 1 hour later)
The Conservative Party is "united" and David Cameron is showing leadership on Britain's relationship with Europe, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said. The Conservative Party is united and David Cameron is showing leadership on Britain's relationship with Europe, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.
Tory grandee Lord Howe said the PM was "running scared" of Tory Eurosceptics and losing control of the party by planning to change the relationship. He told the BBC Tories were at one on the key issue - the need for change to ensure the UK remained competitive.
But Mr Hunt said Tories were united on the key issue - the need for change to ensure the UK remained competitive. Tory grandee Lord Howe has accused the PM of "running scared" of Eurosceptics and losing control of the party.
The PM has pledged an in-out referendum by 2017 if he wins the next election. Activists say the party is in "crisis" amid rows over gay marriage, Europe and a "disconnect" with the grass roots.
But Mr Cameron says he wants first to try to renegotiate aspects of Britain's relationship with the EU - a policy outlined in a speech in January. The prime minister has pledged an in-out referendum on Britain's relationship with the European Union by 2017 if he wins the next election outright.
'Give people a say' But Mr Cameron says he wants first to try to renegotiate aspects of Britain's relationship with the EU.
'Swivel-eyed loons'
Mr Hunt's intervention comes amid anger among party activists at reported comments by a member of Mr Cameron's inner circle that Tory grassroots Eurosceptics were "mad, swivel-eyed loons".Mr Hunt's intervention comes amid anger among party activists at reported comments by a member of Mr Cameron's inner circle that Tory grassroots Eurosceptics were "mad, swivel-eyed loons".
The health secretary told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that he did not believe anyone close to Mr Cameron made those comments and they did not reflect the views of the prime minister.The health secretary told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that he did not believe anyone close to Mr Cameron made those comments and they did not reflect the views of the prime minister.
He added: "If you look at the substance of the issue, the Conservative Party is absolutely united.He added: "If you look at the substance of the issue, the Conservative Party is absolutely united.
"We look at the European Union and we worry about Britain's ability to compete in the global race... the Conservative Party says if we are going to be successful in that global race we need to renegotiate our relationship with Europe and give the British people a say.""We look at the European Union and we worry about Britain's ability to compete in the global race... the Conservative Party says if we are going to be successful in that global race we need to renegotiate our relationship with Europe and give the British people a say."
Mr Cameron was "showing leadership" and not sweeping serious issues under the carpet: "He and I would like to have a relationship with Europe where we can stay in the European Union and be confident we can be successful in the global race," Mr Hunt said.Mr Cameron was "showing leadership" and not sweeping serious issues under the carpet: "He and I would like to have a relationship with Europe where we can stay in the European Union and be confident we can be successful in the global race," Mr Hunt said.
The Eurosceptic UK Independence Party's recent local election successes in England have increased pressure on Mr Cameron to do more now to commit to a referendum.The Eurosceptic UK Independence Party's recent local election successes in England have increased pressure on Mr Cameron to do more now to commit to a referendum.
Mistakes
Lord Howe, who resigned from Margaret Thatcher's government over her policy towards Europe, told the Observer newspaper Mr Cameron had "opened a Pandora's box politically and seems to be losing control of his party in the process", over his plan to renegotiate the UK's relationship with the European Union.Lord Howe, who resigned from Margaret Thatcher's government over her policy towards Europe, told the Observer newspaper Mr Cameron had "opened a Pandora's box politically and seems to be losing control of his party in the process", over his plan to renegotiate the UK's relationship with the European Union.
"The ratchet-effect of Euroscepticism has now gone so far that the Conservative leadership is in effect running scared of its own backbenchers, let alone UKIP, having allowed deep anti-Europeanism to infect the very soul of the party," he wrote. The party leadership was "in effect running scared of its own backbenchers", he said.
"The Conservative Party's long, nervous breakdown over Europe continues and what is essentially a Tory problem is now, once again, becoming a national problem."
Labour peer and former EU commissioner Lord Mandelson told the BBC pulling out of the EU would be a "great setback economically" for the UK, because it would restrict access to, and influence over, the single market.Labour peer and former EU commissioner Lord Mandelson told the BBC pulling out of the EU would be a "great setback economically" for the UK, because it would restrict access to, and influence over, the single market.
'Sopranos-style racket''Sopranos-style racket'
He dismissed a poll in the Sunday Telegraph suggesting 46% of people would vote to leave the EU if a referendum was held tomorrow: "There wouldn't be a vote tomorrow without a very big national debate, during which time all the benefits which Britain derives from being in the European Union would be brought out." He said: "The 'UK isolation party' and their fellow travellers in the Conservative Party are operating a Sopranos-style protection racket inside the Conservative Party.
Lord Mandelson said: "The 'UK isolation party' and their fellow travellers in the Conservative Party are operating a Sopranos-style protection racket inside the Conservative Party. "They are saying: 'Do what we want, give us what we are demanding or we are going to burn your home down'. In my view the prime minister has got to say enough is enough."
"They are saying: 'Do what we want, give us what we are demanding or we are going to burn your home down.' In my view the prime minister has got to say enough is enough."
However, Conservative MP John Redwood told the BBC Eurosceptics were happy with Mr Cameron's policy of "negotiate and decide" and they simply wanted him to "get on with that negotiation".However, Conservative MP John Redwood told the BBC Eurosceptics were happy with Mr Cameron's policy of "negotiate and decide" and they simply wanted him to "get on with that negotiation".
He said only a "handful of people in the Conservative movement" thought the UK's current relationship with Europe worked, while the rest of the party was "united behind the prime minister". Meanwhile, No 10 has said it is "categorically untrue" that anyone in Downing Street made the "swivel-eyed loons" comment about Conservative activists.
Meanwhile, No 10 has said it was "categorically untrue" that anyone in Downing Street made the "swivel-eyed loons" comment about Conservative activists. And party co-chairman Lord Feldman said he was taking legal advice over "untrue" web rumours he had made "derogatory comments", saying in a statement: "I would like to make it quite clear that I did not, nor have ever described our associations in this way or in any similar manner."
Party co-chairman Lord Feldman said he was taking legal advice over "untrue" web rumours he had made "derogatory comments", saying in a statement: "I would like to make it quite clear that I did not, nor have ever described our associations in this way or in any similar manner." Separately, legislation to allow same-sex marriages - which has split Conservative MPs and angered many activists - returns to the Commons for debate on Monday.
A petition was handed in to Downing Street on Sunday, signed by 34 local Conservative chairmen and former chairmen.
They complained of a "crisis of conservatism" and three issues which were currently "destroying the party" - Europe, same-sex marriage and the "contempt" for party membership from the leadership - as demonstrated by the "loons" comment.
"Your refusal to listen to reason and grassroots opinion is causing many previously loyal Conservatives to leave the party," they wrote.
"Some are lost forever and many will not contemplate re-joining unless the Bill is abandoned or the party leadership changed."