The government’s never-ending European problem
In the hours after the coalition was formed last May, a minister and a group of Tory MPs sat around a table in a parliamentary cafeteria discussing what it all meant. One new MP said to the minister that it was a pity that, in the course of the talks, the Tories had agreed to ‘park Europe for the next five years’. The minister, high on the Panglossian spirit of the early days of the coalition, reassured her that this was for the best. The party could devote its full attention to Europe when the economic situation was less pressing.
Yet almost 18 months on, Europe is taking up an ever-increasing amount of the government’s time. It turns out that, far from being ‘parked’, the European issue is speeding towards the coalition at an alarming pace.
The government’s most pressing problem is the crisis in the eurozone — George Osborne openly admits that nothing he can do would help the British economy so much as a resolution to the single currency’s problems.
To the government’s immense frustration, however, the eurozone seems incapable of dealing with its troubles.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in