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ISSUE 1438Monday 3 May 1999

  Right tells Hague to adopt sceptical Euro-manifesto
By George Jones, Political Editor


 

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WILLIAM HAGUE is under pressure to adopt a more Euro-sceptic manifesto for next month's elections to the European Parliament as he battles to avoid a challenge to his leadership from critical Tory MPs.

After the furore over the bungled attempt to downgrade the party's commitment to the free market, Right-wing members of the shadow cabinet have called for a rewriting of sections of the Euro-manifesto. Mr Hague has been told that the draft manifesto is too bland, as it was written to avoid a damaging public split with the Europhile wing, led by Kenneth Clarke.

Mr Clarke has promised to wait until the Euro-elections are out of the way before joining Labour pro-Europeans to promote the case for joining the single currency, provided that the Tory leadership does not campaign on an anti-EU ticket.

Right-wingers have said that unless the manifesto is toughened it is unlikely to motivate core supporters to vote on June 10. They want it to give a clear message that the Tories will not let Britain be "pushed around in Europe".

Mr Hague is being urged to be more assertive on the issue of the single currency. The Euro-sceptics want his introduction to the manifesto to spell out in clear terms that the Tories will not join in the lifetime of the next Parliament and want to see the euro operating in "good times as well as bad times".

The section of the draft manifesto opposing a rise in Britain's net £3.4 billion contribution to the EU's budget is also regarded as too weak. The Right is pressing for a specific commitment to secure a reduction - arguing that it could help to provide scope for tax cuts now that the Tories are pledged to match Labour's spending on health and education.

Mr Hague has already agreed that the next Tory government should seek to take back control of Britain's fishing limits from Europe - the first significant repatriation of powers from Brussels. The manifesto will declare that the EU's common fisheries policy has failed, particularly on the question of conserving stocks, and countries should now be responsible for enforcing the limits. The Right is also pressing for firm commitments to keep Britain's legal system independent and to oppose the setting up of a common European justice system, as well as preserving border and immigration controls.

The Tories' performance in the Euro-elections, along with this Thursday's local elections outside London, and the first elections to the new Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly, will be a critical test of Mr Hague's standing as leader. Tory MPs believe that he could face a vote of no confidence this summer if the party's support falls below its 31 per cent share of the 1997 general election vote.

Yesterday, Mr Hague signalled that he was planning a major clear out of the shadow cabinet old guard in a summer reshuffle. After the turmoil of the past week, with its intense speculation that his position is in jeopardy, Mr Hague made it clear that he would act ruthlessly against opponents on the Tory frontbench and among officials in Central Office.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Hague said: "I'm a nice guy, but I'm not a soft touch. I expect people to do their jobs and deliver, and I owe it to the party to change that if they don't. I've already had a big reshuffle and I have changed my senior staff. I will do it again if necessary." He denied that he was disheartened by the party's situation, trailing badly behind Labour in the opinion polls, but conceded that he faced a mammoth task.

Michael Heseltine, the former Deputy Prime Minister, yesterday urged Mr Hague to "keep his nerve", but he warned him against provoking dissenters into publicly challenging his position. Interviewed on BBC Television's On the Record programme, he said Mr Hague should stand by Peter Lilley, his deputy. He said: "I would be very disinclined to act against Peter Lilley if I was William Hague because this would only exacerbate the difficulties that have emerged - the Press will have a field day."

Lord Howe, the former Tory Chancellor, told ITV's Crosstalk that the party leadership had made a "serious mistake" in its tactics by signalling a major policy rethink in the middle of an election campaign. However, that was not a reason to hold a reshuffle or sack Mr Lilley for making the speech which revealed the apparent change of approach to public services, said Lord Howe.

He said: "It would be a grave mistake to drop someone of Peter's ability. He's got this one wrong but that doesn't mean that William Hague has to begin shedding people right, left and centre." He also rejected suggestions that the Tories should ditch Mr Hague because he was going through a "tough patch" and replace him with Kenneth Clarke. He said: "I don't think this is the moment for upheaval or palace revolution in the Tory Party - we can't go on changing our leader every five minutes."

However, Graham Mather, a Tory Euro-MP, said it was "open season" on the leadership. Many Tories had been "absolutely flabbergasted" by Mr Lilley's speech.

2 May 1999: I'm ready to wield the axe, says Hague
2 May 1999: 'I'm a nice guy but I'm not a soft touch'
1 May 1999: Hague told of growing threat to leadership
29 April 1999: Hague called before MPs as he struggles to right Tory ship
23 April 1999: Clarke will help Labour campaign for euro yes vote
19 April 1999: Lilley urges privatisation rethink
15 March 1999: Hague softens stance on Europhile Tories
3 March 1999: Hague threatens to expel Clarke


 




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