Could differences over the EU end the Tory/Lib Dem coalition?

First topic message reminder :

Those of us who can’t wait to see the end of this hybrid, sleaze-ridden and incompetent government have been heartened by the latest squabbles over the EU. 81 Tories defied Cameron in a Commons vote, while the Lib Dem promise of an in/out referendum on the EU has gone the same way as their pledges on student tuition fees and opposition to VAT increases. Meanwhile, Gove has announced on the radio that the Tories are determined to repatriate powers from the EU, while Clegg has ruled that idea out completely, saying that a “smash and grab raid” to claw back powers handed to Brussels would never happen while he was Deputy PM:-

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2053750/Could-pro-European-Lib-Dems-swallow-reduction-Brussels-power-all.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

As Kiran Stacey has written for ‘The Financial Times’:-
"Nick Clegg’s view on repatriation of powers is that the UK’s national interest is best served by developing a reformed, competitive, open and productive European economy. That should be the focus of any future EU discussions. For the moment, the Lib Dems are happy to sit back and watch the Tory Party tear itself apart over Europe……Cameron will be under increasing pressure to push for repatriation of powers, and that is not likely to do much for coalition harmony."

http://blogs.ft.com/westminster/2011/10/number-10-hints-at-repatriating-powers-from-the-eu/#axzz1bvZBMd3g

So what are these powers that the Tories want to repatriate from Brussels? They mostly concern employment legislation, which true to form, the Tories want to scrap in order to help their paymasters. Cameron commissioned a report by venture capitalist Adrian Beecroft, who has branded current employment laws ‘terrible’ and said that they are making it difficult for employers to find the workers they need. Beecroft’s plan – which apparently appeals to both Cameron and Osborne – is to scrap all claims for unfair dismissal, giving firms the right to sack workers without giving them a reason. This idea will be fiercely opposed by the trade unions, and by the Lib Dems, putting even more pressure on this rotten coalition government. We can but hope…..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2053546/Lazy-workers-sacked-explanation-government-told.html

Feltham & Heston is not a safe Labour seat, the previous majority was only about 4,600. In fact it’s a seat that the Tories would need to win to get an overall majority in Parliament (perish the thought). Yesterday saw an 8.6% swing to Labour and an increased majority, despite a much lower turnout. Tory friends in the media (who last week conned a lot of people into believing that Cameron actually achieved something at the EU summit) will try to play down the result, but I’m sure Labour would settle for a swing of that magnitude in the next election. Bring it on!

Share of the vote....In this once Thatcher's Tory Party Safe Seat.....

2001
Labour 59%
Tory 24%
Libdem 13%

2005
Labour 48%
Tory 28%
Libdem 16%

2010
Labour 43%
Tory 34%
Libdem 13%

2011
Labour 54%
Tory 27%
Libdem 5%

It was looking like the Tory's were making headway in this consituance but not now.....

I wonder what happened?

The significant feature was the Liberals' strength against UKIP.

The realy big problem for those of us in the centre ground and centre-left of politics is "Europe"

Unfortunately the middle classes who make or break elections tend to be rather Eurosceptic, it seems that domestic issues do not realy count, but been anti Europe is important - after all we are British :D

As long as we can put two fingers up at France, rising unemployment at home and a worsening economic outlook dosent realy matter, as far as David Cameron is concerned it is the British interest that matters, he never ever speaks of mutual interest or working together for the good of everyone - typical Conservative ideal is "Self Interest".

Sorry my good friend Witchfinder but I think that all my fellow countrymen and women who were bambozzeled into voting yes in 1975 to Europe and people today who think we are better off being controlled by them need to have there bumps feeled.

blueturando wrote:OW.....Amazing that Labour won their 'safe seat'.....big surprise all round hey....Doh!!!

Well 4 bye-election wins in a row is something the Tory party failed to do from 1997 to 2009.

The Tory party has been fighting within itself for over 30 years over the question of Europa. Will the time come when all the fighting gets so bad within there party that they split apart over this issue? as they have almost become impossible to hold together over the whole question over Europa. or with one side win and the other side just fade away? there is also a big battle within there party between the hard right wing and wet wing of the party?

when this banal government falls will the Tory party split up?

We can but hope!

Stox 16 wrote:The Tory party has been fighting within itself for over 30 years over the question of Europa. Will the time come when all the fighting gets so bad within there party that they split apart over this issue? as they have almost become impossible to hold together over the whole question over Europa. or with one side win and the other side just fade away? there is also a big battle within there party between the hard right wing and wet wing of the party?

when this banal government falls will the Tory party split up?

Is the Tory Party genuinely "split" on the European issue? There are fewer than a dozen Tory MPs who vigorously espouse membership of the European Union here and now, in January 2012.

oftenwrong wrote:

Stox 16 wrote:The Tory party has been fighting within itself for over 30 years over the question of Europa. Will the time come when all the fighting gets so bad within there party that they split apart over this issue? as they have almost become impossible to hold together over the whole question over Europa. or with one side win and the other side just fade away? there is also a big battle within there party between the hard right wing and wet wing of the party?

when this banal government falls will the Tory party split up?

Is the Tory Party genuinely "split" on the European issue? There are fewer than a dozen Tory MPs who vigorously espouse membership of the European Union here and now, in January 2012.

this is quite true oftenwrong. yet they sit with the so-called pro EU party. now that is asking for trouble is it not. but will Clegg stand up and walk out over the Euro...NO he will not