Eurozone

Ronnie Campbell Excerpts

Monday 10th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Osborne]

Speaking as a member of the Conservative party, I would make it clear, as the Prime Minister has done, that if a future treaty should arise, as it may well do, we will argue the case for bringing back certain powers to this country. I am sure that we will have a very active debate about what those powers should be—

[Mr Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley) (Lab)]

And throw union rights out of the window?

[Mr Osborne]

I am sure the hon. Gentleman can put in his bid for things he would like to see repatriated. Perhaps there would be some trade union powers, so that a Government led by the union man, the leader of the Labour party, could get their way more easily. But we will have that debate in due course; it is not active at the moment in European circles. I suggest that we focus on the immediate issue at hand, which is resolving the eurozone crisis.