Clegg Launches Attack On Tory Eurosceptics

Nick Clegg has launched an attack on Conservative eurosceptics within the coalition Government who are hoping to reclaim powers from Brussels.

The Deputy Prime Minister warned it would be "economic suicide" for Britain to "retreat to the margins" of Europe.

Rewriting the European Union's founding texts would open a "Pandora's box" and leave the continent paralysed when it should be focused on restoring economic growth, he said.

The Liberal Democrat leader's intervention came with Prime Minister David Cameron under pressure to bring powers back to Westminster, as part of negotiations for any new treaty.

More than 80 Conservative MPs rebelled last week over a call for a referendum on UK membership of the union.

Polls have also suggested that two thirds of the public - and 80% of Tory voters - agreed with the rebels.

Writing in The Observer, Mr Clegg said it was clear the 17 eurozone nations were moving towards more fiscal integration and the European landscape was "about to change".

But he complained "two extremes" were dominating the debate on how Britain should respond.

"On the one hand, there are some who see an opportunity for a more centralised EU, built around a tighter, quasi-federalist core," Mr Clegg wrote.

"On the other, are those who imagine a chance for the UK to draw away from the union.

"They relish the prospect of a unilateral raid on Brussels' powers. The irony is that both options require treaty change: Europhiles and Europhobes are clamouring for the same thing.

"As always, neither extreme of the argument is right. Both would have the UK give up our place at the European top table, sacrificing the influence essential to our prosperity.

"It is only by having a loud voice in a united Europe that we can promote the open economy that will deliver growth.

"Being shoved to the margins, or retreating there voluntarily, would be economic suicide - a sure-fire way to hurt British businesses and lose jobs."

Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell backed up his successor's stance.

"Nick Clegg makes a perfectly sensible point which is that the idea of federalism in Europe is now dead," he told Sky News.

"You couldn't have a federation with 27 countries.

"But the other alternative, which is for the United Kingdom to draw away from Europe and to become some kind of offshore associate of Europe, would be deeply damaging to prosperity and jobs."

Tory Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt insisted the Government's top priority was boosting competitiveness and economic growth.

"However, there is also a moment where there may be discussions about rebalancing powers and we will act in the national interest," he told Sky.

"There are differences between the Liberal Democrat part of the coalition and the Conservative part.

"They want to rebalance a few powers, we would like to rebalance a lot of powers."

Mr Clegg said there was "sense" in amending the EU's foundations to ensure eurozone members obeyed strict budgetary rules.

But he went on: "Having worked in the EU for years, my concern is that tampering with the EU's founding texts is opening a Pandora's box, leaving us paralysed by ideological battles, institutional navel-gazing and special demands from every member state.

"These are dangerous distractions when our urgent priorities are restoring stability and jump-starting growth.

"We understand the need for stronger fiscal discipline and oversight in the eurozone, but we must see if these objectives can be met by other means."