Orders of the Day — European Communities (Developments)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 15 November 1978.

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Photo of Mr Bryan Gould Mr Bryan Gould , Southampton, Test 12:00, 15 November 1978

I am delighted to hear the hon. Gentleman say that, but it has always puzzled me that people can say on the one hand that they support the Common Market and on the other that they are fundamentally, or in any other degree, opposed to the common agricultural policy, because the Common Market is the common agricultural policy dressed up with a few trimmings. It is not possible to distinguish the two. That is why the French have such an easy ride of it and we do not.

Despite the recommendation of the hon. Member for Mid-Oxon that we should take a cringing posture and beg for small mercies, it is open to this country, particularly in the light of the Prime Minister's apparent realisation of the dangers and damage that we are suffering, to take a much more robust policy.

Our negotiating position is, almost paradoxically by virtue of our very weakness, much stronger than is currently realised. For example, we are the paymasters of Europe. If we withdraw our £1,760 million contribution, someone will have to make that up. We are also the consumers of unsaleable foodstuffs which, if we were not foolish enough to pay twice the market price for them, would add to the food surpluses, the mountains and the enormous cost of disposal.

We are also the market for Common Market manufactured goods. We have a deficit with the Germans alone for manufactured goods of £1,800 million. Does the hon. Gentleman really maintain that the Germans will cut off that trade and spite themselves by giving up that advantage? Of course they will not.

We are also in the unusual position of having made the enormous contribution of our fishing waters to the Community's fishing policy. If we were to withdraw that, there would be no Community fishing policy. We are also the possessor of the Community's energy resources.

Our negotiating position is immensely strong. All we need is to give up the mealy-mouthed approach which is recommended by Conservative Members and which has unfortunately hitherto been pursued by our own Government. Let us take the Prime Minister's speech as a sign that we are changing, that we shall no longer be mealy-mouthed, that we will do some blunt talking; and if blunt talking does not work, let us take some blunt action instead.