The Conservative Party’s departure from the European People’s Party came down to a
choice of expediency over principle. If you are inclined to accept that Britain will stay in the EU and that membership helps this country – even if it requires some compromises – you will likely
find the move unfortunate. If you are more concerned about the principles at stake – and feel that Britain’s loss of sovereignty has gone too far – and do not care about the loss
of influence on the legislative process, you are likely to be in favor of the Tory move.
David Cameron is keen to keep the issue of Europe away from the campaign – and he is likely to succeed. Across the continent, but particularly in Britain, the EU plays only a limited role in political debates.
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