When Two Tribes Go To War

Posted by Featured Articles, Harry Aldridge on 11 9th, 2009 | 3 responses

The natives are getting restless…

David Cameron has been given an 18-month deadline by a powerful band of Eurosceptic Tory MPs to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with Brussels or face an “all-out war” for a referendum, it emerged yesterday.

…Another Eurosceptic backbencher said: “We have agreed to keep quiet on this before the election, but if things do not start happening in the first year or so, there will be all-out war for a referendum.”

UKIP’s performance at the general election may well play a pivotal factor in Cameron’s strategy on Europe. If UKIP shows solid growth in support, then might we possibly see some kind of electoral pact being mooted?

I can foresee a situation whereby a referendum on continued EU membership could be offered in return for UKIP standing aside in a number of seats. Whether UKIP would be open to that is another matter, and a question which rather depends on who our leader is. What is clear is that Europe has returned as an issue.

Many of us in UKIP have said the election after next is the crucial one. These reports would seem to confirm that. If UKIP make solid progress at the election, then it may strengthen the hands of Tory Eurosceptics who may now feel there is a safety net which did not exist before.

What we are seeing might just be the beginning of the crack in the damn, and the moment when Europe can no longer be contained, and when the Conservative Party splits.

5-for-1 Xmas Special

This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.



3 Responses to “When Two Tribes Go To War”

  1. Tim Bowling says:
    November 9, 2009 at 7:09 pm

    This election could actually be the crucial one if Nigel Farage is elected and perhaps one other UKIP MP is returned to Westminster. If UKIP can achieve an 8-10% share of the poll, this will result in 1.5 million votes and could deprive the Tories an overall majority. Clearly the price to pay for a coalition government with "Call Me Dave" Cameron would be a referendum on our whole relationship with the EU and perhaps a cabinet post for Nigel. It is absolutely paramount that Nigel is returned in Buckingham – with him in the Commons UKIP would have a genuine bargaining stick with which to beat the Tories round the head with. Asmany UKIP members as possible must make themselves available for the Nigel Farage campaign.

  2. Mr Fawkes says:
    November 9, 2009 at 10:48 pm

    Enjoy:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvxB8G11KQA

  3. Andrew Cadman says:
    November 11, 2009 at 10:54 pm

    I agree with the central thrust of this article. Indeed, I would go further: I think the next Government, assuming its Tory, will represent the very last chance for the LibLabCon establishment to head off the collapse in its hegemonic position. Its not just Europe, the whole establishment is now dangerously disconnected with mainstream British life on a whole range of issues.

    There is no great enthusiasm for the Tories or Call Me Dave out there, but there is a yearning to get rid of Labour.