European Council

Christopher Pincher Excerpts

Monday 26th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s support. On this side of the House at least we will go on arguing for a tough settlement.

[Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con)]

Does my right hon. Friend recall the warning given by Aneurin Bevan—one Labour figure who knew how to stand up in Britain’s interest—who said that it is dangerous to send a British Foreign Secretary

“naked into the conference chamber”?

With respect to retaining our veto as a weapon in our negotiating armoury, does the Prime Minister think the Leader of Opposition could benefit from a bit of Bevan?

[The Prime Minister]

I think the Leader of the Opposition could benefit from a little bit of time with his socialist colleagues in the European Parliament, because they have done so much to try to undermine all of us who want to see a tough budget settlement. They are calling for a 5% increase, getting rid of all the rebates and having a financial transactions tax. That is what the socialists stand for in Europe and if the Opposition do not agree, they should have the courage to do what we did and leave their group.