Barroso delivers embarrassing EU rebuke to Cameron Mon, 20/10/2014 - 09:31 President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso has delivered an embarrassing rebuke to David Cameron on his plans for an in/out referendum on the EU – as a new report shows uncertainty over the UK’s EU position could put investment and jobs at risk. Speaking on the BBC on Sunday, Mr Barroso gave short shrift to the Prime Minister’s claims that he will re-negotiate key aspects of the UK’s terms of membership including freedom of movement – making clear that this is an “essential” principle of the EU and cannot be changed. He went on to say that the UK would have “zero” influence on the world stage if it left the EU. Mr Barroso’s comments come as a new report by the EY ITEM Club said that uncertainty over the UK’s position in the EU could risk investment and lead to a slow-down in economic growth. Commenting, SNP MSP James Dornan said: “Jose Manuel Barroso’s comments are an embarrassing slap-down to the Prime Minister. David Cameron is now being told by the man the Tories said gave definitive opinions on Europe that his plans to renegotiate the UK’s membership of the EU simply cant happen – and that the UK would have ‘zero’ influence if it voted to leave the EU in a Westminster in/out referendum. “The Westminster parties were falling over themselves to tell us we should listen to Mr Barroso during the independence referendum campaign – so his intervention today will be deeply embarrassing to the Tories, and shows just how dangerous it is to allow European policy to be led by UKIP’s right-wing agenda. “The folly of David Cameron’s Euro-hostile agenda is also confirmed by a new report which says that uncertainty over the UK’s place in Europe could lead to a slowdown in investment and growth – putting Scottish jobs at risk. “The fact is that Scotland rejects the Euro-hostile consensus that is building at Westminster – which is exactly why the extensive new powers promised to Scotland in the Vow should allow us to speak with a stronger and clearer voice on the world stage, rather than being represented by a Westminster establishment dancing to UKIP’s tune.” snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/oct/barroso-delivers-embarrassing-eu-rebuke-cameron
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 09:25:00 +0000
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