Comments on: Guest Post: Chris Patten for ‘EU Foreign Minister’?

By: Thomas Byrne

Thomas Byrne — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:02:30 +0000

I should have replaced it with ‘if’ eh? :)

I didn’t mean to assume really, and of course Patten will get on with more than just our party.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:47:19 +0000

I was agreeing with most of what he said until he made the silly mistake of taking a tory victory next year for granted. It’s different if everyone else thinks it, it sounds really bad coming from a Tory.

By: Thomas Byrne

Thomas Byrne — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:26:12 +0000

David Cameron, of course, does not want the UK to leave the European Union. He never has, and he never will, and it’s a shame he panders to Hannan and co I really worry about a chunk of the party fleeing to UKIP.

I have come round the new grouping though, despite not wanting to leave the EPP, and it look’s as if we’re going to be working with them again soon. Assuming we stay in the ECR grouping though Patten being respected by the EPP would be great in smoothing over relations and allowing them to come together, something Cameron might find appealing.

The Socialists might like him too if they took a look (Perhaps more so than Milliband) – his stance on Gaza especially, whereas his Russia stance would appeal more to the right.

I havent really looked at the other European players sadly.

By: Thirsty Gargoyle

Thirsty Gargoyle — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:48:24 +0000

I think he’d be great for the job, but if the Spanish reports during the week have merit, it looks like the top job will com from the EPP with the High Rep being a socialist.

The Miliband rumours may have merit, in which case surely it’ll be either Balkenende or Juncker as Council President. On the other hand, these rumours may be as off the mark as the Blair ones were.

By: Joe Litobarski

Joe Litobarski — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:33:50 +0000

Interesting suggestion. Let me scribble down a response.

For the pros:

- Patten is from a centre-right party, which would reflect the dominance of the centre-right EPP in the European parliament.

- He would, as you say, represent a more moderate side of the Conservative party than the Hannanites. A British High Rep might improve UK/EU relations.

Cons:

- Patten may be from a centre-right party, but that party is not part of the EPP. An EPP candidate would more accurately reflect the make-up of the parliament.

- France and Germany might object to a British High-Rep because of the confrontational approach the Conservatives have been taking with Europe.

- To your point about Patten turning EU foreign policy into a force to be reckoned with: Even the High Rep is going to have a limited role in shaping EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. Foreign policy is still very much the domain of the individual member-states. The High Rep might have a limited agenda setting role, but not much else.

- Would Cameron even welcome a British Conservative appointee? Would it not just further divide his party and give him an even bigger headache?

Those might not be the best points – but they’re just a few off the top of my head.