I look forward to the public apologies to William Hague.
The Guardian
So much political capital has been invested in the euro project that it is perfectly understandable that policy makers have been desperately trying to buy time until they can piece together a fiscal union to buttress monetary union. There are a number of problems with this idea: it would take time Europe doesn't have to organise; it would involve the weaker countries being dictated to by the strong in an even more direct way than they are at present; it would involve not just years but decades of austerity, and it would mean ignoring the seemingly obvious conclusion that monetary union is – and always was – rotten economics.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/economics-blog/2011/nov/13/euro-breakup-would-avoid-crisis
...and Douglas Alexander
The twin pillars of pro-Europeanism, prosperity and a bulwark against continental war, no longer hold such sway. He also suggests that "anthems, flags and the apparent aping of the symbol of nationhood left the impression of a half-built superstate, and provided a rallying point for Europe's opponents". In a speech on Monday, foreshadowed in a Guardian article, Alexander will argue: "There's even a tendency … to say people keep rejecting pro-European propositions because they aren't proposed in a pro-European enough way."But shouting louder is not a winning strategy. He defends the Labour government's refusal to hold a referendum on the Lisbon treaty, but does concede the failure to consult the British people contributed to a "haemorrhaging" of support for Europe in the UK.
The free movement of labour within the EU (something he supports) has also proved difficult.
Alexander therefore concludes: "For those of us who see Britain's national interest as best served within the European Union, a defence of the status quo simply isn't good enough."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/13/labour-power-european-union
