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European Affairs

Let us, for the record, be absolutely clear that what the hon. Gentleman said ““ Never”” to was the claim that the European Union should be a critical vehicle for the UK to pursue its international agenda for the benefit of the British people. That is what he said ““Never”” to, and we thereby know where he is coming from and where he wants to go to. The truth is that, to forge an effective global response to the economic downturn, to drive a successful low-carbon economy to curb climate change, and to address the security threats that we face, from Russian aggression in Georgia to piracy off the coast of Africa, we have to work with the EU and our European allies. It is only through co-operation and engagement that we maintain the level of influence that we do in Brussels. The Finnish Foreign Minister was recently in London, and he met the shadow Foreign Secretary, the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague). The Finnish Foreign Secretary said that"““what we are seeing with the current British Government is one which has a voice and which is at the heart and leading edge of the debate””" in Europe. He added that"““true engagement means that you have to work in the mainstream European political parties, such as the European People's party””—" That is—[Interruption.] The Conservative Finnish Foreign Minister is being jeered by the Conservatives. That tells us a lot about the modern Conservative party. This is how—