| Statement 1: Europe; Foreign Secretary | |
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| Topic Started: 14 Nov 2011, 17:00 (99 Views) | |
| Allison Calvert | 14 Nov 2011, 17:00 Post #1 |
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Defence and Leader of the Commons
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Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to inform the House of Cabinet's decision regarding future contributions to bailouts of the Eurozone and to outline this Government's plans for Europe as we move forward throughout the course of this Parliament. I have been watching goings-on in the Eurozone with increasing alarm, as have my colleagues in Cabinet and I'm sure across the aisle and on the benches behind me, but from the perspective of how best the United Kingdom can avoid being caught in the trap that our friends across the waters find themselves trapped in. The web in which they are entrapped is one of their own making, of the reckless tying together of profligate nations with thrifty ones in a currency union which has been ill-managed from the get-go. It is hardly fair that this country, which exercised courage and discretion to stand almost alone in resisting the march towards centralization in the form of the European Central Bank, should be expected to foot the bill to bail out the Euro now that its member nations are incapable of supporting it. Were the pound sterling to suddenly begin to collapse, I hardly believe that President Sarkozy would run down to the Assemblée Nationale and demand billions of Euros to prop up our currency, and likewise neither I nor my Rt Hon friends will do the same with this House. It shall be the policy of this Government that payments to bail out the Euro shall only be made if, and only if, in the Cabinet's determination and with the concurrence of the Treasury not to do so would tremendously and adversely affect the stability of our own economy. The British people have said no to the Euro time and again, and we will not be forced into supporting what we do not want until our own immediate interests are threatened. Some may suggest this is to take far too nationalistic a view, far too close to the Little England views of the early twentieth century. I reject that analysis. Instead, we are acting in the interests of our own economy which continues to struggle, and in the interests of our own businesses who require our support far more than the Eurozone. The fact that there is very little political will in the most profligate European nations--Portugal, Greece, Spain, and Italy--to make changes to their unsustainable spending only reinforces our view that to bailout the Euro would serve only to encourage the poor decisions of the past to continue. Would only that the continent had listened to the concerns of the United Kingdom, and of our Danish friends, when the single currency was first mooted: the economies and economic values of Europe are too diverse to sustain a single currency. History has proven that our views were correct then, and history will prove this view was correct in the future. This is not to say we will abandon Europe entirely; for better or for worse our interests do not end at the Cliffs of Dover. But neither is it for this Government to say what the relationship with Europe should be. It is for that reason that we commit ourselves to holding within the next year a binding referendum on the nature of our relationship with the European Union: are we in, or are we out? If the people of the United Kingdom resolve themselves to withdrawal from the EU, we will pursue our old status as a member of the European Free Trade Agreement, a relationship with the continent that is far closer to the vision of Europe that the British people voted for more then thirty five years ago. We will remain economic partners and diplomatic friends, but without the baggage that comes along with endless dictates from Brussels. If the British people resolve themselves to remain within the European Union, then this Government will continue to advocate for British interests inside the organization, and use the result of that referendum as the grounds to renegotiate the terms of our accession. If Chancellor Merkel can use the Eurozone crisis to demand a new treaty, then so can the Rt Hon Member for Woking, and I will be proud to begin negotiations at her direction. Withdrawal or no, we must always look to the future of this country, and its economic future. We are tied to Europe, yes, but we are not without alternatives in the world. I am a daughter of the Commonwealth, and I know of its value to this nation and to its other members. With five members of the G20 economies as Commonwealth nations, three of them bound together by the Crown, we have a unique opportunity to take a more global perspective than just focusing on the European continent. Through the Commonwealth, we can seek new markets for goods and services, all while rebuilding relationships abandoned in pursuit of the now discredited European ideal. Many years ago, another Conservative lady stated that there was no alternative to her plans. On Europe, Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that there are alternatives, and they are more attractive than more of the same failures. I commend this plan to the House. |
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Rt Hon Allison Calvert MP Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary of State for Defence Leader of the House of Commons Member for Ashford (2001-) Conservative and Unionist | |
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| James Maxwell | 14 Nov 2011, 18:38 Post #2 |
Leader of the Opposition
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Mr Speaker, Could the Foreign Secretary tell the House which economies she determines as too big to fail? |
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The Rt Hon. James Maxwell MP Leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition Leader of the Labour Party MP for Coatbridge Chryston and Bellshill | |
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| James Maxwell | 14 Nov 2011, 18:39 Post #3 |
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Leader of the Opposition
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((Sh*t, I ain't allowed to ask questions yet, am I? Sorry!)) |
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The Rt Hon. James Maxwell MP Leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition Leader of the Labour Party MP for Coatbridge Chryston and Bellshill | |
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| Allison Calvert | 16 Nov 2011, 14:31 Post #4 |
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Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Defence and Leader of the Commons
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((Since my Shadow didn't respond, I'll answer questions now I guess.)) Mr. Speaker, This Government believes our own economy is the only one we owe a duty to preserve and protect. Obviously we do not wish to see our continental partners in distress, but they brought the problem on themselves through years upon years of profligate and irresponsible spending, coupled with a reckless merger of their currencies into an unsustainable one. To answer the Rt Hon gentleman's question directly, no Government, nor corporation, is too big to fail when that failure is caused by their own shameful actions. Were the problems Europe is suffering caused by the actions of others, I can assure the House I would be far more sympathetic, but the problems were not caused by others; they were caused by a Southern European gravy train that has run since the end of the Second World War without concern for the consequences. Now it's time to pay the piper, and they turn to the more responsible nations of Europe to save them? No, Mr. Speaker, that's not acceptable. |
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Rt Hon Allison Calvert MP Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary of State for Defence Leader of the House of Commons Member for Ashford (2001-) Conservative and Unionist | |
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| James Maxwell | 16 Nov 2011, 18:39 Post #5 |
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Leader of the Opposition
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Mr Speaker, I do not think that the Foreign Secretary and her party are getting this. The truth of the matter is, whilst I hate the idea of British taxpayers footing the bill for bailing out European countries left, right and centre the collapse of say a country like Italy would have disastrous consequences on the European economy, and that includes us, such an event may well push us back into deep recession, just like the banks. Will the government still contribute to the IMF, even if the funds eventually go to saving the fate of a Eurozone nation? |
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The Rt Hon. James Maxwell MP Leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition Leader of the Labour Party MP for Coatbridge Chryston and Bellshill | |
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| Allison Calvert | 17 Nov 2011, 13:53 Post #6 |
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Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Defence and Leader of the Commons
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Yes, Mr. Speaker, this Government will continue to contribute to the IMF, as it represents a lender of last resort for struggling, failing economies. What we will not do is directly contribute funds to countries that refuse to end or modify their lifestyles in order to avoid their crippling debt burden. |
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Rt Hon Allison Calvert MP Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary of State for Defence Leader of the House of Commons Member for Ashford (2001-) Conservative and Unionist | |
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