The Conservatives would walk "naked" into negotiations with European Union member states because of their hostility to Europe, Ed Davey has said.The Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson told politics.co.uk he believes the party with the "biggest foreign policy hole" is David Cameron's after it voted against the Lisbon treaty earlier this year. Mr Davey, speaking at his party's conference in Bournemouth, suggested the centre-right party's stance could hinder progress in British relations with Russia if it wins the next election. "The Conservatives are in an incredibly weak position with respect to the challenge of Russia," he said. Tory opposition to EU enlargement, developing a security and defence policy – "that's exactly what we need" – and a cohesive energy stance were all cited by Mr Davey as weakening their potential stance. He added: "On every element of these challenges, whether it's climate change, energy, Russia – the Conservatives would go naked into the negotiating chamber because everyone knows they are hostile to Europe." The Lib Dems want their support for a stronger EU to be a "key part" of their foreign policy" and Mr Davey downplayed divisions within its member states over how to deal with Russia. "You say the EU is divided – I think it's great that we have the EU to deal with it," he continued. "Imagine if there was no EU – we'd have 27 states – then we really would be divided. If we were to come together and have an agreement on everything would be astonishing and it would be slightly worrying if we did."
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Davey launches foreign policy attack on "naked" Tories
Ed Davey attacks "naked" Tories
The Conservatives would walk "naked" into negotiations with European Union member states because of their hostility to Europe, Ed Davey has said.The Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson told politics.co.uk he believes the party with the "biggest foreign policy hole" is David Cameron's after it voted against the Lisbon treaty earlier this year. Mr Davey, speaking at his party's conference in Bournemouth, suggested the centre-right party's stance could hinder progress in British relations with Russia if it wins the next election. "The Conservatives are in an incredibly weak position with respect to the challenge of Russia," he said. Tory opposition to EU enlargement, developing a security and defence policy – "that's exactly what we need" – and a cohesive energy stance were all cited by Mr Davey as weakening their potential stance. He added: "On every element of these challenges, whether it's climate change, energy, Russia – the Conservatives would go naked into the negotiating chamber because everyone knows they are hostile to Europe." The Lib Dems want their support for a stronger EU to be a "key part" of their foreign policy" and Mr Davey downplayed divisions within its member states over how to deal with Russia. "You say the EU is divided – I think it's great that we have the EU to deal with it," he continued. "Imagine if there was no EU – we'd have 27 states – then we really would be divided. If we were to come together and have an agreement on everything would be astonishing and it would be slightly worrying if we did."
Georgia War Hits Russian Investment
The Conservatives would walk "naked" into negotiations with European Union member states because of their hostility to Europe, Ed Davey has said.The Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson told politics.co.uk he believes the party with the "biggest foreign policy hole" is David Cameron's after it voted against the Lisbon treaty earlier this year. Mr Davey, speaking at his party's conference in Bournemouth, suggested the centre-right party's stance could hinder progress in British relations with Russia if it wins the next election. "The Conservatives are in an incredibly weak position with respect to the challenge of Russia," he said. Tory opposition to EU enlargement, developing a security and defence policy – "that's exactly what we need" – and a cohesive energy stance were all cited by Mr Davey as weakening their potential stance. He added: "On every element of these challenges, whether it's climate change, energy, Russia – the Conservatives would go naked into the negotiating chamber because everyone knows they are hostile to Europe." The Lib Dems want their support for a stronger EU to be a "key part" of their foreign policy" and Mr Davey downplayed divisions within its member states over how to deal with Russia. "You say the EU is divided – I think it's great that we have the EU to deal with it," he continued. "Imagine if there was no EU – we'd have 27 states – then we really would be divided. If we were to come together and have an agreement on everything would be astonishing and it would be slightly worrying if we did."
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