The main opposition Labour Party swung behind continued European Union membership this week after initial uncertainty about the stance of new leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Advertisement
As Tories gathered for a conference set to be dominated by Europe and the crisis in Syria, Mr Cameron said he was “calmly and rationally” attempting to persuade European counterparts to back his drive for reform ahead of an in/out referendum on the UK’s EU membership.
When asked about the idea that the integration of Western Europe following World War Two had prevented another conflict, he said: “Do you really think that everyone having a single currency means they are less likely to fight each other?”
Mr Corbyn’s remarks in an interview marred the last day of the Labour Party Conference.
Mr Corbyn’s first conference as leader ended in a major split over his commitment to unilateral nuclear disarmament and his revelation that he would never press the button to launch a nuclear strike if he was prime minister.
In a separate newspaper interview, he disclosed he would “beef up” the SAS and the number of drones Britain has to tackle Islamic State.
The Protectors, to be imported from the United States, can be used as surveillance craft but can also be armed, the Ministry of Defence said Sunday. “I call them little Europeans: We are looking to go global – our future is the world, not Europe”.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon is understood to have been briefing sympathetic Labour MPs about the need to take action in Syria.
“The PM (prime minister) has been clear and unequivocal on this”.
Mr Javid, who like Mr Hammond and Mr Duncan Smith is viewed as a Eurosceptic, told the Daily Mail: “The right approach now is to put all our efforts into getting the changes that we want to see and increasing the chance of getting those”.
“Obviously I accept we are making changes to tax credits. That is a better system”.
The results show the growing divide over the European question between the prime minister and his party. “But I’ve always said if we don’t get those things that we are asking for I rule nothing out and I am very serious about that”, he added.
The Prime Minister said the Conservatives would remain firmly in the “common ground” and said that the party would not engage in any “back-slapping” this week on the fortunes of Labour.
He said: “Just before Christmas 3.2 million low paid workers will receive a letter from the Chancellor telling them he intends to cut their wage packets on average by £1,350 a year”.
Speaking about junior doctors, he said: “We are going to have to make a few hard decisions” but said that parents want to have a service where they can see doctors when they needed.
Households hit by the loss of tax credits will be compensated by the national living wage and by thousands of pounds in new childcare support, the Treasury says. The fact is there are around 11,000 excess deaths because we don’t work properly at the weekend.
He said that he would like to serve a full second term until 2020 when a parliamentary election is due to be held.
Advertisement
He denied suggestions that the way was being paved for Mr Osborne to take over and said: “It’s not a coronation because it’s not my decision”.
