Britain in Europe: A Campaign of Deception?

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has created a new lobby group, "Britain in Europe," to campaign for the country's membership in the single currency, but in doing so, he is attempting to avoid a difficult democratic debate on the issue. The campaign's true purpose is being obscured, and voters are being misled into believing that supporting Britain's EU membership means supporting the single currency. This is a grossly misleading tactic, as those who support both EU membership and the retention of the national currency are being portrayed as "extremists" with a hidden agenda to leave the EU altogether.

Key Takeaways:

• The true purpose of the "Britain in Europe" lobby group is to campaign for the UK's membership in the single currency.
• Tony Blair's aim is to avoid a democratic debate on the issue of monetary union.
• The campaign's strategy is to portray those who support both EU membership and the national currency as "extremists" with a hidden agenda.
• William Hague's decision to couple renegotiation with a threat to block EU enlargement has made it easier for Labour to distort the debate and portray the Tories as "anti-European."
• The stance of The Times, which has grave doubts about monetary union, has remained consistent in its support for an "open, flexible, and enlarged" EU.
• Mr. Hague's tactics have made it more likely for Labour to attack the Tories as "little Englanders" and "anti-European."

Statistics:

• The campaign's registration entry at Companies House states that it was created six months ago to campaign in favour of UK membership of the single currency.
• The Prime Minister's nose for tactics has led him to adopt a strategy of stealth to promote a profoundly unpopular cause.
• The Times has argued for the "open, flexible, and enlarged" EU since before William Hague became the leader of the Conservative Party.

Sources:

• The Times, 1999. (Note: Since the original text does not specify the exact date, we have preserved the copyright year as 1999)
• Companies House registration entry for "Britain in Europe"