John McCain - too pro-European for UK Tories

John McCain is enduring the rough and tumble of being almost the Republican Presidential candidate, so what's one more snub between friends?

Senator McCain is putting the Conservatives in an odd position. In many ways he is their natural ally. McCain has been an enthusiastic personal backer of David Cameron from the start, meeting in early 2006 and speaking at the party conference, but, according to at least one member of the Shadow Cabinet, senior Tories are increasingly uncomfortable with him because of his "unacceptable" views on Europe.

Back in 2006, he questioned the widsom of Cameron trying to leave the EPP and in December he expanded on this pro-European philosophy, when he said:

“Americans should welcome the rise of a strong, confident European Union. The future of the transatlantic relationship lies in confronting the challenges of the twenty-first century worldwide: developing a common energy policy, creating a transatlantic common market tying our economies more closely together, and institutionalising our co-operation on issues such as climate change, foreign assistance and democracy promotion.”

This leaves some on the right of the party unimpressed and those in the centre are struck by Obama. Some younger, modernising Tories have openly endorsed Obama on Platform 10. What ever are the Tories to do?

Comments

[David Boothroyd]

The Conservatives have been searching for their 'clause IV' moment, when the Leader makes a decisive break with cherished policies from the past which are no longer appropriate, and moves into the modern era.

Ditching the nihilistic Euroscepticism which took over the party in the mid-1990s is going to be the Conservatives' clause IV moment. It is not going to happen for some years.

[Daniel Scullane]

Let's be honest about this: John McCain will not win. Is there any point in the Conservatives backing anyone? Sit back, be neutral and make friends in January 2009 at the inauguration.

[Carly Corday]

As an American, I cannot figure out what this article is saying. I'll have to investigate to learn what a Torie is. It can't be what I thought after all, now that I've read this. Apparently, it's a party in the UK of people who...what...hate themselves? Hate Europe? Are suicidal? Don't want Europe to survive and are working against it continually? Then the article goes on about "Conservatives." I'll have to learn what that is, in the UK. Same as a Torie? NOT the same? Same as an American conservative, or Republican? NOT the same? What does the UK care about McCain or Obama either way anyway?

Oh, well. I'll read up. I recommend to UK citizens that they not hate themselves and disapprove of others being pro-Europe, but you've surely already thought of that yourselves.

Yours in Ignorance (of SOME things),
Carly
Obama '08!

P.S.
I LOVE YOU.

[Bob Evans]

Snubbing Senator McCain once again put the Tories in the unenviable position not of shooting themselves in the foot, but instead aiming slightly below the belt buckle. He is the natural ally of Great Britain's Tories and of the country. To spend more than a week here would make that obvious to all. The "younger, modernising Tories [who] have openly endorsed Obama" are quite naive and have obviously not studied the man, falling into his trap of "charisma"!

[Ed]

I have to say I think it takes a great deal of twisting to construe John McCain as pro-EU.
He's a free-trade, anti-corruption crusader who (rightly) wants European countries to pull their international weight.
What in the name of sanity could he have in common with the European Union?!?

[Bill Rees]

Cameron is frightend to formalate any policy on Europe .He is smart enough to know it will split his party again.One day he will have to come off the fence as the UK can not have a Prime Minister in no 10 without having thought thru a policy on Europe.It would spell economic disaster for the UK.

[Stan(expat)]

Trouble is, the Conservative party of 2008 is almost indistinguishable from "New" Labour, therefore the adulation of some for Obama makes perfect sense.
UK is paying a heavy price for the lack of a vigorous Loyal Opposition.

[Daphne Kenward]

Reference to Bob Evans so what do you know about Obama, and more over what do you know about Politics? I know enough to know McCain is a War Hero, fine. But the question is what he openly admits is he knows nothing about economics, he wants a 100 year War in Iraq, they want to set the stage for more Wars what we need is peace, the money that McCain want to use for his Wars around the world I sugest he uses it to provide homes for the Katerina Victims in New Orleans, and Clean up the Streets Invest in America and build up their economy, before they force our Country into recession as well, talking stupid about Obama is not going to deal with real issues, America Borrowed the Money for the Iraq War from China, borrowing money to fight illegal wars is not responsible or a smart thing to do, if money is invested in productive programmes you get a rewards from it, if you brought 10 houses and rented them out over time you pay back what you borrowed to invest and begin to make a profit. So investing in a war reaps no benifits, has McCain ever heard of Peace & Persperity, that's what I want for my future. McCain has no concepts of what living in peace means, America needs to give the World a break, leave the people alone in their countries, as people leave Americans in their Countries, but out of peoples business, deal with their own, if any body needs their help give them a chance to ask for it. The People of Darfur has asked for help who is listening? no one, they are Poor like the People of New Orleans, have no voice, they are the Voiceless people in the world, and Britain is going the same way a Massive Group of people Trapped in Poverty and live on the Benefit system because they were born in Poverty and live in Poverty. Poor Housing rundown council estates, drug infested dens. The Gun Culture under New Labour has killed too many over the last 10 years. We Too need a New Leader to get this Country Out of a Rut of New Laws to Criminalise our Youth, and Poor Citizens who needs to be Lifted out of poverty, and offer them hope and a future away from crime and violence. What this Country needs is a reality check, and the people of this Island Nation who have been fooled out of their Taxes, seen their Money ending up in New Labours Back Pockets in Fraud, Claiming expences MEP'S Pocketing Millions of Peoples Taxes while we still have no public transport, and mountains of New Cameras to collect even more money to wast on gimmics, and try to invent America in Britain. The latest Stunt is to import an Idea to have lanes for people shairing cars, it works in America because their roads is bigger, wider. When Tax payers are going to work they don't need access blocked to them, and end up late to work and lose their jobs while people who are not going to work gets preferential treatment, forcing people to shair a car, it works if there are several people working and living in the same area. What Our Taxes should be spent on is improved Bus and Train systems, which will reduce emmissions, we don't want any more Cameras. We Need investments in our Transportation services, and our Education Making it Free for every Child in Britain this American Idea that you pay for an education, and students leaving Education saddled with debts, is an American System. I would like the Old Britain Back all of New Labours Laws got rid off, because they benefit no one in Britain Except the Labour Party. We Need Social Justice, Teenagers are taking their own lives drinking them selves to death as they try to face their young lives of debts and a life of poverty. No one has ever taken the issues seriously to find out why young people are so depressed, that they are on drink and drugs, if they are out of their heads they don't need to care about it, they don't need to care about killing their classmates. why? these problems did not exist before New Labour, New Labour is a danger to every Man Woman and Child in Britain. The Labour Party Slogan should have a Health warning stamped on it. We live in an increasingly oppressive society, every thing is illegal, told what to do, The PM is a public servant and needs to consult with the electorate, and hear the voice of the people, and start to show we the people more respect. New Labour should not have no powers over us we are Free we are being treated as slaves in Britain our Freedon being taken away, every day, no one is interested in Politics any more so we have some of the worst people in Britain in public office none of them is fit for the Job.

[Julian Bassett]

Why do the Conservatives feel the need to back anyone in the US election? The last time they did that it was a disaster - the wrong man (Clinton) got in. They should, as Daniel says, wait until 2009. None of the candidates, right or left, will exactly mirror Britain's apsirations anyway, for the simple reason that they represent another country's interests.

[Peter]

Of course the Tories support Obama: his policies are typical leftie European policies - as are the Tories.

I was discusted to read that William Hague supports Obama. Thank god he didn't become Prime Minister!

[Carol Lynn]

WELL I GUESS THEY BETTER GET OVER IT , RIGHT????