David Cameron was “Grandstanding” when he announced that he had a letter signed by 12 EU countries recommending a 2.9% increase in the Budget, instead of the 6% they were asking for. He had previously said he wanted the Budget reduced, or at least a freeze. His grab for publicity was condemned by all parties. According to Paul Nuttall of UKIP, “He said that he would cut the budget, or at least freeze the budget, now he's talking about a 2.9% increase at best - it's crazy”
Labour - and Eurosceptics in Mr Cameron's own party - have questioned whether it was much of an achievement.
Shadow foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said: "David Cameron's grandstanding has been a complete failure. European governments decided on 2.9% in August so he has achieved absolutely nothing."He's tried to swing his handbag but simply ended up clobbering himself in the face." As Cameron said previously “There was a suspicion that while some of these decisions might have been good decisions, not all of them were good decisions”
Conservative MP Bill Cash, chair of the Commons European Scrutiny Committee, said prime ministers always claimed success when they returned from EU summits, but the 2.9% increase was what the Council of Ministers had originally agreed - and British MPs had already voted to reject a higher increase.
Conservative peer Lord Tebbit said: "He would do better to go down fighting than to surrender in some Vichy-style arrangement, pretending to hold on to sovereignty by agreeing to what Europe demands."
David Cameron said he had “succeeded spectacularly”.
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Vic Farron RFT Express.
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