Friends Like These

Fun and games in the Group of European Conservatives and Reformists, which David Cameron is trying to take over by seeking to place his man, Timothy Kirkhope, in the chair currently occupied by Michal Kaminski.

Promising to set up this meaningless Group enabled Cameron to pose as the Eurosceptic candidate even though David Davis was promising the very meaningful withdrawal from the CFP. The rest of that Group, including Kaminski, is too good for Cameron and his party.

Are there not other Groups that could propose measures and motions for the payment of mothers to stay at home with their children, for adoption and against abortion, for palliative care and against euthanasia, in favour of Obama’s support for traditional marriage (or, at the very least, against compelling anyone to conduct deviations from it), against sex and violence in the media, against State toleration of drugs and prostitution, against unrestricted Sunday trading, and against supermarkets opening on what are supposed to be public holidays for everyone including shop workers? Much of this Group would vote for such measures and motions. But then there would be the Conservative Party.

Are there not other Groups that could propose measures or motions to safeguard or restore family life in general and paternal authority in particular by safeguarding or restoring high-wage, high-skilled, high-status employment such as coal-mining? Much of this Group would vote for such measures and motions. But then there would be the Conservative Party.

Are there not other Groups that could propose measures and motions for generous welfare provisions, for public services in the public sector, for universal healthcare provided by the State, for workers’ rights, and for the public ownership of important companies? Much of this Group would vote for such measures and motions. But then there would be the Conservative Party.

Are there not other Groups that could propose motions, perhaps on appropriate anniversaries, condemning by name all those (including Margaret Thatcher) who signed the Single European Act, and condemning Winston Churchill for his carve-up of Eastern Europe with Stalin? Much of this Group would vote for such motions. But then there would be the Conservative Party.

And so on.