The Written Word
for June 6, 1999

It's been over 50 years since the Franco-German Coal and Steel deal that became the father of the European Community. It's been nearly 25 years since Britain entered what was then known as the Common Market. Yet today there is no issue, which more clearly divides the two major political parties than "Europe". While it sets apart Labour and the Tories it also divides each party internally though probably the Tories more than their rivals who have such a huge majority that it doesn't really show.

The Europe question has an interesting history with almost every political leader of note, over the years, having waffled on it - the exception being Ted Heath who has been a staunch defender from the start.

The great figures of the past - Harold MacMillan, Harold Wilson, James Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher have had varying opinions on the wisdom of Britain being in the Common Market or whatever name it happened to be going under but the problems for the Tories started with Mrs Thatcher who,` especially in her latter days, became more and more doubtful. The trouble was, by that time Britain was in and the issue became how far 'in" was "in". Thatcher left an awful legacy to her successor, John Major, who was tormented by personal doubts and a party which would split in an instant on the subject given half a chance. It was this issue more than any that divided the Tories so badly in the last election.

The issue is a gut issue and can be traced back over 100 years. The "little Englander", the name applied to those like Joseph Chamberlain, denoted those who wished to protect Britain with tariffs (though, curiously, Chamberlain started as a stout "free trader"), and though a pejorative is worn with pride by many today.

Strangely both the pro Europe forces and the antis trace their recent line back to Winston Churchill who, in 1946 proposed, in effect, a United States of Europe. It was a blockbuster of a speech which, unfortunately has been badly misquoted ever since. For what Churchill said was that there should be a United States of Europe but not including Britain who ought to maintain and exploit it's strong connection to the English speaking world, that is to say the United States and, to a lesser degree Canada.

It was this union of English speaking peoples that inspired Churchill's wartime "special relationship" which, though in existence, was more in the minds of the British that the Americans when it came to anything solid.

The fact is that today's Britain is divided and the divisions, far from paling as time passes are intensifying. The issue now is a common currency and many in the UK see this as the final blow, the loss of British sovereignty. That this should have occurred to them so late in the day may seem odd but all people are in denial - even though we all know we must die we play it as though in our case there'll be an exception made.

William Hague, until now a rather ineffective leader of the Tories has grasped the "eurodollar" as a big issue, no little helped by the fact that it has been taking quite a beating as against the British pound in the markets. Tony Blair and his Chancellor of the Exchequer have helped by postponing Britain's joining the common currency - if he had done so immediately at least the issue would have been behind him before the next election.

Now it stands as the issue by which Tories can revive themselves - perhaps not enough to make a miracle comeback in a couple of years but enough to get back in the game.

At present the elections for the European Parliament are on and this is a perfect opportunity for the Conservatives to slam the Eurodollar. It costs them nothing because the European parliament is only a "talk shop" any way. It does, however, present an opportunity to test public opinion and, perhaps, establish an issue where not only is there clear blue water between themselves and the Labour Party but may, happily for the Tories, be a winning issue as well especially since strong pro labour support will also go to the Liberal Democrats, thus splitting Labour's vote.

There are some political issues that just won't go away - in Britain, "Europe" is just such an issue.