Unsheathing the scissors

I am a keen supporter of the EU and Britain being in the EU, the club being a force multiplier for British interests – in my view, the future lies between a partner (with significant heft) in the EU or a servant (and a not particularly well-respected one) of the USA. I prefer the lure of equality.


But I still think David Cameron has done remarkably well to secure a cut in the EU budget for the next seven years compared to the previous seven years. He had an ally in austerity-obsessed Germany. France might not have caused such ructions if Sarkozy still occupied the Élysée, but a combined London-Berlin axis was too much. It is right if countries are reining in spending at home that the EU as an institution should face a squeeze as well, rather than increasing the gravy for the train. Martin Schulz may say he won’t sign it but he may then be ousted as speaker of the European parliament for defying the wishes of national leaders – it is the Council of Ministers where real power lies.

No matter what happens now though, Cameron can claim a second victory in a week (and one without his wife working her charms on her husband's staying power behind the scenes). It’s been nearly three full days since same-sex marriage was approved in the House of Commons and still the sky has not fallen in. Maybe that will come when the House of Lords approves it as well… This will all be forgotten by the time of the next general election as people focus on bread-and-butter issues, but I have a feeling that Cameron won’t let his EU victory slip from the public mind.