Express & Star

EU referendum 'inevitable' but needs leadership, says Michael Fabricant

A referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union is 'inevitable' but cannot be led by a Tory', a former Conservative vice chairman has said.

Published

Outspoken Staffordshire MP Michael Fabricant says Labour and the Liberal Democrats will have to commit to a referendum because of public pressure.

However, Labour's new shadow Europe minister Pat McFadden, MP for Wolverhampton South East, says the party will stick to its pledge to give a referendum in the event of a transfer of power to Brussels.

Lichfield Tory MP Mr Fabricant, who was sacked as party vice chairman for outspoken remarks on Twitter about the former culture secretary Maria Miller and his opposition to HS2, wrote in a newspaper column: "It is now almost inevitable that a simple in-out referendum will be held on our continued membership of the EU. David Cameron's commitment to hold one in 2017 will have to be replicated by other parties (though they haven't done so yet) through the pressure of public opinion and the reality of a changing Europe under (new European Commission president) Jean-Claude Juncker.

"Almost immediately, off the back of the Scottish independence referendum, we could be on the eve of another such campaign. For seven years I have helped run byelection campaigns for the Conservative party, and I do not believe that an out vote could be won right now.

"Imagine the campaign. The polls – as they currently are – hint at a knife-edge vote. Business leaders, Labour and the Liberal Democrats, some Conservatives and the European Union itself, along with heads of state and prime ministers, will warn Britain that it would be worse off out. The in campaign will be run by a consensual, passionate businessperson or statesman. They will offer guarantees of reform and their campaign will be showered with money – some of it from the EU – and use slick advertising.

"The out team will be very different, with no leader who commands popular support. Before you can even make the case for Britain becoming a mid-Atlantic economic hub, freed from the shackles of Brussels diktats, the Eurosceptics will be all over the place. No clear leader, and angry looking grey men who have been arguing the toss on Europe for years, will fail to impress. Yes, Nigel Farage is clearly the most charismatic Eurosceptic in years, but does anyone really imagine Farage being the Alex Salmond of the out campaign? Would he be persuasive enough to seduce a nation?"

He said an 'out' campaign could not be led by a Conservative because UKIP would not join it, nor would Eurosceptic left wingers.

"I have no doubt that the argument can be won, but perceptions are crucial, and credibility more so when shaping our future," Mr Fabricant said.

"Eurosceptics need someone to lead the campaign who can balance the philosophical issues of the heart with the tangible economic arguments. Until this can be done, I don't hold out much hope for the out campaign."

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.