Cameron sees off his backbench Eurosceptics with Labour’s help; how lowering!

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David Cameron suffered his first serious humiliation of the new Parliament yesterday (Tuesday), when he had to rely on the Labour Party to beat a rebellion by his own Eurosceptic backbenchers.

In a vote on arrangements for the in/out referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union, 27 Conservatives opposed their own party’s plan to scrap the traditional period known as “purdah”, when Whitehall is intended to remain neutral in the run-up to a major vote.

Cameron had already conceded ground to the Eurosceptics, in agreeing not to hold the referendum on the same day as an election, and he was expected to have to allow their demand for no pro-EU material to be produced by Whitehall.

But Labour saved his bacon by abstaining.

The SNP, which had joined the Tory Eurosceptics in supporting the amendment, tried to attack Labour for allying with the Tories once again.

Scottish Nationalists have a real problem distinguishing between an alliance between consenting parties and a coincidence of action in which they work toward the same result for different reasons: Labour did not abstain from this vote to help the Conservatives, but to further its own pro-EU cause.

Also, of course, if they’re going to attack Labour for helping Tories by abstaining from a vote, how hypocritical do they look after voting alongside Tories in the same division?

This leads us to another inescapable conclusion: Cameron cannot rely on Labour to save him all the time.

With a wafer-thin majority of only 12 MPs, he’s going to have to fight his own party on every controversial policy.

Perhaps next time, Labour will offer him help in return for a major policy reversal. Perhaps Labour won’t help him.

What’s certain is that Cameron is in deep, deep distress.

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8 Comments

  1. Nick June 16, 2015 at 11:51 pm - Reply

    these so called labour mp’s need to go and fast being a closet conservative is a disgraceful and it’s about the public got rid of there fake mp as a democracy has no place for those that lie and cheat

    if you wont to be a conservative then hold your hand up and leave it’s very simple

    • Daniel June 17, 2015 at 7:47 am - Reply

      Labour are a pro-EU party, so voting with the government was in line with their own objectives.

      What doesn’t make sense here is the SNP, which is also pro-EU, voted with the Eurosceptics to force Whitehall to remain neutral in the run-up to the referendum – which would leave the press (predominantly right-wing and anti-EU) free reign to influence the public with NO opposition from government. Strange, when you think about it!

      • Mike Sivier June 17, 2015 at 8:53 am - Reply

        Extremely.
        You have to judge by actions, not words.
        So far, the SNP hasn’t been very good at sticking to its word.

    • Mr.Angry June 17, 2015 at 7:59 am - Reply

      Could not have put it better myself, what the hell is going on with so called politicians?

    • John Gaines June 17, 2015 at 9:18 am - Reply

      Labour MP’s ain’t working for us anymore:

      Today, Unions and/or social movements ask their participants to do very basic and small actions: to take to the streets, holding posters and shouting. These are very basic behaviors and no longer have a political effect.

      As movements and as activists, we have avoided the only solution, which is: we have to build social movements that can also function as political parties. we think we can just organize large protests and get really angry it no longer works, we are chasing a false theory of how social change happens. The only way to remove the power of Neo Facsists and their corporate paymasters from our society, is to create a social movement capable of winning elections. As movements and as activists, we have avoided the only solution, which is: we have to build social movements that can also function as political parties.

      We thought we had one, The Labour Party is no longer our Party.

      Without hesitation the toppling of Cameroon the Liar was paramount for our continued welfare….Labour Abstained!

      • Mike Sivier June 17, 2015 at 10:45 am - Reply

        Labour is pro-EU.
        Don’t expect Labour to do this all the time!

  2. Jeffery Davies June 17, 2015 at 4:37 am - Reply

    Little tory party once again act in their bigger brother favour

    • John Gaines June 18, 2015 at 9:26 am - Reply

      If THE Labour Party continues uncritically to embrace th EU, whose policies are contrary to the wellbeing of the average UK working person and who actually prefer a Conserative UK Government, it is past time then that we closed it down and started again with a New Party, who will actually do what is best for the membership,
      Time to dump these false Tory Lite conmen, the Gravy train is closed to them.
      NOW, WHAT SHOULD WE CALL THE NEW WORKERS PARTY?

      The United Workers Party?

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