The Labour Movement for Europe is a group of activists from all parts of the country and all parts of the Labour movement. We put the case for Europe in the Labour Party and beyond, and we would like you to join us. As a member you will receive regular information on EU developments as well as information rebutting Euro-sceptic propaganda. Your membership will help fund our work, including our website.

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LME and Progress joint meeting – July 5th – The splits in the Coalition over Europe

Together with our friends at Progress, we held a meeting in Westminster in July to discuss European issues that may drive a wedge between the two Coalition parties. The meeting was chaired by Emma Reynolds MP, and apart from LME, speakers included Chris Bryant (Shadow Europe Minister), Charles Grant from the Centre for European Reform, pollster Gideon Skinner.

There is a much fuller report here, but here is a summary of some of the main points raised.

MPs within the Coalition are undoubtedly split on Europe, and there are great tensions not just between Tories and Lib Dems, but also within the Tory party. Cameron and Hague are being pragmatic on Europe at the moment and avoiding controversial issues, but pressure from the Eurosceptic right is beginning to be visible in Parliament. Pressure from the right is bound to increase as issues come up for debate.

Labour should certainly keep pointing out that Cameron and Hague are being realistic in accepting the status quo and ignoring Eurosceptic pressure on some issues, such as the need for a referendum and the repatriation of powers straight away. We know full well that Eurosceptics do not support such pragmatism and they may start to oppose it if reminded about it often enough.

However, we should also keep pointing out that the Tory leadership are still fundamentally Eurosceptic, as they are still planning a Referendum Bill and a Sovereignty Bill, and we need to keep asking the Lib Dems whether they agree with this Eurosceptic position.

There will also be a number of areas where the two Coalition parties could end up clashing:

• The next EU budget. Tories want to see cuts, but this is bound to lead to the EU wanting to cut the UK rebate
• Banking reform – many EU governments want to  see EU-wide banking reform, and the LD manifesto called for more controls, whilst the Tories seem to backing off under pressure from the City
• Justice – a number of EU agreements will be discussed as they come up for renewal, and will Cameron and Hague want to oppose co-operation on fighting cross-border child abuse, trafficking and organised crime?
• The Sovereignty Bill – a fundamental Tory pledge, but will Cameron and Hague want to put one forward, as it is bound to lead to calls for the repatriation of powers
• The French suggestion of a co-ordinated approach on carbon taxes to avoid differences that companies could exploit will test Tory green credentials and be popular with Lib Dem MPs whilst Eurosceptics will say that it is a further centralisation of powers

For a fuller report of the meeting, click here. We would like to thank Progress for working with us on this very successful meeting and we are sure we will have more joint events in the future.

LME at Conference

Once again LME will be holding its fringe meeting on the Sunday lunchtime of Conference, starting at 12 noon. The meeting will finish before the official start of Conference sessions at 2pm. Confirmed speakers so far are Chris Bryant MP, Shadow Europe Minister, Glenis Willmott, Labour leader in the European Parliament, and Richard Howitt, MEP for the Eastern Region.

The meeting will discuss Social Europe and what we can expect from the Tory/Lib Dem coalition – will they start to undermine hard-fought social rights and weaken protection for workers? A buffet lunch and drinks will be served.

The meeting will be held inside the secure zone, in the Stanley Suite of the Midland Hotel, 12 noon, Sunday September 26th. Please make a note in your diaries.

Our latest newsletter

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You can also read an article by Julian Priestley on Europe's Long Hot Summer here.