DC: I want us to be in Europe but not run by Europe
Very directly, Christopher, I think we should be in Europe, because we're a trading nation, we're part of Europe, we want to co-operate and work with our allies in Europe to get things done. But I do agree with you that we have let too many powers go from Westminster to Brussels, we've passed too much power over and we should take some of those powers back. I want us to be in Europe but not run by Europe. There will... you'll hear big differences between me and the other two parties. I don't want us to join the euro, I want I want us to keep the pound as our currency. I don't want us to give up the British rebate. I want to make sure we get value for money for what we put into Europe. I want to cut some of the bureaucracy, some of the rules, some of the regulations that I think drive business so mad. That's the agenda you'd get from a Conservative government in Europe. To those who say somehow this would be isolation, I say nonsense. President Sarkozy of France, he stands up for France in Europe. Angela Merkel in Germany, she stands up for Germany in Europe. I would do exactly the same for Europe.

I understand why people like Christopher are frustrated about the European Union and some of the things that have happened. I think one of the reasons that people are so angry is that politicians at Westminster have given away powers to Brussels without asking us, the people, first. I think people felt particularly cheated when the European constitution came forward and we were told we were going to get a referendum and Gordon Brown and Labour stopped that from happening and Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats didn't vote with us to get that referendum. We should have had one. People feel cheated by that. As a result, one of the things I would do if I was your Prime Minister is straightaway pass a law through parliament that says if ever there's a future occasion when laws are being proposed to pass power from Westminster to Brussels, there will be a guarantee of a referendum held in our 5 country. You send us to parliament to make decisions, make laws, discuss the issues, yes. You don't send us there to give away powers that belong to you. There should be a referendum guarantee if ever this happens again.



Immediately related elementsHow this works
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Visualizing the Prime Ministerial Debates »Visualizing the Prime Ministerial Debates
International questions »International questions
A. How would you tackle EU interference? »A. How would you tackle EU interference?
DC: I want us to be in Europe but not run by Europe
Britain shouldn't join the Euro »Britain shouldn't join the Euro
Don't want to give up the UK rebate »Don't want to give up the UK rebate
Maintain Britain's seat on the UN Security Council »Maintain Britain's seat on the UN Security Council
Pass law guaranteeing a referendum before passing powers to EU »Pass law guaranteeing a referendum before passing powers to EU
Stand up for Britain's interests in Europe »Stand up for Britain's interests in Europe
Want to cut some of the bureaucracy »Want to cut some of the bureaucracy
Want to have a single market that's good for Britain »Want to have a single market that's good for Britain
Britain is a trading nation »Britain is a trading nation
In Britain's interests to co-operate with European partners »In Britain's interests to co-operate with European partners
Let too many powers go to Brussels without asking British people »Let too many powers go to Brussels without asking British people
David Cameron (International) »David Cameron (International)
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