What are the Lib Dems up to? On Tuesday, Clegg, Cable, Alexander, Huhne and Laws met
with ‘Business for New Europe’, a group of pro-European business leaders, in what the FT describes as
as ‘a very public display of engagement with business over Europe’ and the front page of today’s Mail calls ‘plotting to rally business chiefs against Cameron over
Europe’.
It is, of course, not surprising to see senior Liberal Democrats talking to pro-EU business people and advocating more engagement with Europe. But it does highlight what will be a key goal of the Lib Dem leadership over the next few months: building bridges with Europe, particularly to reconnect with traditional, europhile Lib Dem supporters following the PM’s veto last week.
Many in the party are frustrated that, after keeping them in check for the first 18 months, Tory backbenchers now seem to be winning the battle over Europe.
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