The United Kingdom has been told by the European Union to
pay an extra £1.7bn towards the EU budget.
Also slapped with the deadline of the 1st December, the
Conservatives and UKIP have gone into overdrive in condemnation and disbelief
at paying.
At a time of heavy Anti-EU feeling within the UK, the rise
of UKIP, and right-wing Tories having an ever increasing presence, could this
be another nail in the possible EU coffin?
For the ever present soundboard of Nigel Farage, this is his
prefect opportunity to stay in the spotlight, keeping up his condemnation of
the EU and all it stands for.
Today in interviews he has been comparing the commission to “Thirsty
Vampires” and also laying down gauntlets to the Prime Minister saying “that Mr
Cameron has to veto this if he is to have any credibility at all”.
Bold words for a leader with one MP, as it stands.
But with another By-election in Rochester and Strood in the
not too distant future, and being able to use big headlines like this, along
with immigration fears in the general public, a possible second could be on the
cards.
David Cameron on the other hand, has it all to do.
After already stating that he wanted to renegotiate the UK’s
position within the EU, this announcement has dwarfed news that the British economy
is still growing, something that the Tories could have shouted about.
But now, instead of being able to quiet the other political
parties for a while, he has to take up arms and defend his position again.
He has started very strong, combating Nigel Farage with a
very angry and powerful speech, saying that he would not pay. At least not on
the 1st December.
It would seem then that David Cameron knows the severity of
this political crossroad.
But I find it very unlikely that Britain will not pay any
extra, even if a deal is agreed.
EU finance ministers have agreed to an emergency meeting of
disgruntled countries, as it is not just the UK that have to pay extra, although
we do have to pay considerably more. With some other major countries getting a ‘tax
rebate’ of sorts.
|
Losers
|
Additional sum to pay
|
|
SOURCE: LEAKED EU COMMISSION DOCUMENT
|
|
|
United Kingdom
|
£1,676m
|
|
Netherlands
|
£506m
|
|
Italy
|
£268m
|
|
Greece
|
£70m
|
|
Cyprus
|
£33m
|
|
Winners
|
Reduction
|
|
France
|
£801m
|
|
Germany
|
£614m
|
|
Denmark
|
£253m
|
|
Poland
|
£249m
|
|
Austria
|
£232m
|
With countries like France and Germany set to profit from this
new budget, a deal will be improbable.
But whatever deal Mr. Cameron might be able to make with the
EU, it could have a direct result on the general election next year, as I fear
that if UKIP are allowed to build up steam on the back of big negative EU
stories, we could be in store for a very different looking government.
