By Martin Banks - 19th March 2010
That is a sad indictment of their record in Europe
Timothy Kirkhope
Timothy Kirkhope, the leader of Britain's Conservative MEPs has admitted that the party's parliamentary allies "may not always like what we have to say".
However, he added, "But at least they will always be able to trust what we say."
The Tories have been criticised by some, including most notably their former group leader, Edward McMillan-Scott, for aligning themselves with what some regard as extreme right wing new partners from Poland and the Czech Republic.
McMillan-Scott, a veteran MEP of 25 years, announced this week that he was joining the Liberal Democrats after a lifetime in the Conservatives.
But, addressing a debate organised by the UK-based think-tank Open Europe, Kirkhope tried to defuse ongoing tensions by outlining his party's European credentials ahead of the upcoming UK general election, expected in the next few weeks.
He conceded, "What Britain now needs is to earn the respect of our European partners by engaging constructively in the debate with a consistent approach.
"Under a Conservative government, our partners may not always like what we have to say but at least they will always be able to trust what we say."
Kirkhope added, "The EU has an important part to play in supporting economic recovery.
"The European commission has just published its agenda 2020 initiative for driving forward the European economy. There is much in this we would support. We want to develop the internal market further, remove remaining barriers to trade.
"The public needs a government which can be trusted to promote Britain's national interests in the EU by advancing its ideas clearly and firmly, and engaging constructively with our fellow members to develop the kind of Europe the public wants: an EU which can earn their respect and merit their confidence.
"The fact is that during the 13 years of the Labour government, public support for our membership of the EU has fallen, it is lower now then when they took office.
"That is a sad indictment of their record in Europe. For all the sound-bites and soft words, the government hasn't delivered in Europe and the public knows it.
"What Britain now needs is to earn the respect of our European partners by engaging constructively in the debate with a consistent approach."
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