Golly-gosh, the disappointment on hearing that Dave's big speech - no, really, I mean, like, really BIG speech - on Europe has been postponed was, well, barely discernible! However, it gives us time to do what very few of the denizens of the Westminster village do which is to look at it from the point of view of Berlin-Brussels. Just imagine - oh, go on, give it a try - that you were 'Mr. Rumpoy-Pumpoy' and you knew that Dave was on his way to renegotiate the British agreement with the European Union, what would be your re-action? Probably, to issue forth a stream of profanities because it's not as though you haven't at least a dozen other seriously huge problems needing your attention without some smoothy-chops, Old Etonian twit coming over and adding to them!
However, given that he is unlikely to be put off how would you deal with him? Well, first of all you would work out what his plan is. Clearly, from what he has already let slip, he intends to negotiate a new deal to be ready to display proudly to the British public just in time for the next election with an absolutely, definitely, word of honour, cast-plastic guarantee that the British people will be offered a referendum on it after his party is re-elected. So, the first and obvious thing to do is kick the negotiations as far as possible, not just into the long grass, but better still into the forest! As the election date draws closer, Dave will become increasingly desperate to take something - anything, really - back to his voters, so his resolve will gradually weaken.
But then you - still playing the part of 'Mr. Rompoy-Pompoy' - might ask yourself exactly what the chances are of Dave actually winning the next election? No need of hugely expensive - and mostly useless - pollsters, simply go to Bet Fred, or Paddy Power, or any of the major bookies and they will tell you now that Dave's chances of winning are miniscule. Possibly even Dave knows this in his heart which is why he carefully promises a referendum only after the next election. So why not just leave him to kick his heels in your ante-room whilst you get on with more important and pressing matters?
And of course, one of the most pressing items on your agenda is your plan to drive Europe in exactly the opposite direction from that desired by Dave, that is, into even closer union than hitherto. So tell your secretary to give him a sweetie if he bursts into tears!
Well, if I was Dave, I would just keep my head down. Don't agree to anything and don't make any helpful suggestions. When you look at Rumpy, Barroso and Schultz, you certainly don't imagine they could fight their way out of a paper bag, let alone the Eurozone crisis. Let them get on with, they'll screw it up without our help.
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Friday, 18 January 2013 at 14:08
But they're just Merkel's glove-puppets. Even so, I wouldn't underestimate them, their tenacity in holding it altogether for as long as they have certainly exceeded my expectations.
Posted by: David Duff | Friday, 18 January 2013 at 14:28
If Dave had any sense he'd hold the referendum on the same day as the General Election and as many Council elections as possible. It's hard to believe that the people who would roll out to vote against the dictators of Bruxelles would be keen to vote for the dictators of the Labour party. 'course, that might lumber the country with more Dave, but the alternative is two-Eds-are-worse-than-one.
Posted by: dearieme | Friday, 18 January 2013 at 16:05
You obviously have more faith than I do in Mrs Merkel! The whole thing is held together by inertia. Imagine a large boulder rolling down hill. It's actually 27 chunks of rock loosely held together. None of them can jump free because of the speed and they are all afraid of being crushed. So they are sticking together hoping something will turn up. It'll probably be something like the river just before it goes over Niagara Falls.
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Friday, 18 January 2013 at 17:09
Good point, DM, but would 'Cleggoron' let him do it? ("Two-Eds" etc, ho-ho, very witty, Wilde!)
It's not so much faith in Mrs. Merkel as the fact that he who pays the piper etc. I agree that nothing much has been solved and that they 'cling to nurse for fear of something worse' but, quite remarkably in my opinion the markets have allowed them to do so. I am still waiting for the second shoe to drop but I'm not holding my breath!
Posted by: David Duff | Friday, 18 January 2013 at 17:25
XX he carefully promises a referendum only after the next election.XX
Aye. And the damn fool, imbicilic British public, with the attention span of a grade 4 alzheimers patient, will fall for it AGAIN!!!
Posted by: Furor Teutonicus | Saturday, 19 January 2013 at 00:59
I know, I know, FT, democracy would work so much better if only we could get rid of the damn people! On this particular topic, of course, relations with Europe come well down the list of main concerns for most people. Sooner or later they will learn the hard way - again!
Posted by: David Duff | Saturday, 19 January 2013 at 09:15
FT. You must have tremendous expert educational qualities to make the above statement.
The Brits as they do will cast their vote in their own personal interest.
OK I concede a minority mainly middle class leftys will vote for something or other.
Posted by: Jimmy Glesga | Sunday, 20 January 2013 at 22:49
"something or other" - yes, I'd vote for that!
Posted by: David Duff | Monday, 21 January 2013 at 09:13