There was a telling row in the
chamber of the European Parliament last week. Martin Callanan, superb leader of
the European Conservatives, had mortified MEPs by declaring that ‘patriotism is
healthy’. Outraged, the President of the European Commission, José Manuel
Barroso, declared that Martin was likely to lose his own seat, because of a
surge by Ukip.
Now ask yourself this. Why would
the ultra-federalist Mr Barroso be talking up Ukip at the expense of the
Tories? Why did the unelected Eurocrat-in-chief take the exceptional step of
wading directly into the party politics of a member state?
The answer is clear enough. While
Mr Barroso detests Nigel Farage, he doesn’t fear his success. Nigel (whom I
like and admire) won’t be in a position to cut the EU budget, or repatriate
powers, or impose benefits caps on EU migrants. David Cameron is already doing
all these things. Ukip won’t be in a position to deliver a referendum on
leaving the EU; the Tories could.
Ukip says all the right things,
but can’t make them happen. The Conservatives are more modest in what they
promise, but are already delivering.
Ultimately, the solution will
have to be some kind of accommodation between the two Right-of-Centre parties.
In the meantime, Mr Barroso has unwittingly given my party a great slogan:
‘Vote Conservative – it’s what the Eurocrats fear most’.
This being my first bulletin
since the summer, let me take the opportunity to thank all the South East
Tories who voted to put me at the head of the Conservative list for next year’s
election. And thanks, come to that, to those who didn’t: in the current
climate, I am grateful to anyone who chooses to become involved in politics.
Even Lefties – though some of them would, as this piece suggests, feel better
if they tried to hate a little less:
