The Church of England has mounted an extraordinary attack on David Cameron over Europe – warning that his veto of an EU treaty last year has left Britain ‘without credibility’.In a highly unusual move, the Church has told MPs to adopt a more ‘constructive and positive’ approach towards Europe or risk Britain ‘slowly drifting towards the exit’.
The Prime Minister’s historic veto of Europe’s fiscal compact in December was hailed by Tories as a major victory, although it angered his Liberal Democrat deputy Nick Clegg.
Mr Cameron said he blocked the adoption of the measures as a full EU treaty because other countries refused to agree safeguards needed to protect Britain’s economy.
But the Church said he had left the impression that ‘Britain was being awkward for the sake of it’. It said Britain risked being seen as an ‘unreliable partner’ and now needed to ‘work to rebuild trust’.
The comments come from a paper submitted to the Commons foreign affairs committee.
It was prepared by the Archbishops’ Council, headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams and the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu. The paper added that Britain ‘had found itself not only without allies, but without credibility as a negotiating partner as it opposed measures which were intended to achieve broad policy goals which are fully in line with UK national interest’.
The treaty, which was signed by all EU leaders apart from the UK and Czech Republic, imposed a ‘balanced budget rule’ on eurozone states.
It aims to stop them running up huge debts such as those which triggered the Greek, Irish and Portuguese bailouts.
The Church called for Britain to sign up to the controversial treaty ‘as soon as possible’.
Despite its name and history, the Church insisted that it was a ‘European Church’ that had invested ‘time, energy and resources’ in building partnerships across the continent.
The intervention sparked an angry reaction last night from Eurosceptic Tories, who are urging the Prime Minister to adopt a tougher stance on Europe. Tory MP Brian Binley said: ‘The Church should get back to its prime business of praising the Almighty, saving souls and considering its own diminishing position in this society.
‘The Church of England is not a political organisation and many members despair at the way it seems to be projecting itself.
‘The Church’s position in society has diminished during a time when it has as its head a gentleman who seems to think his role is much more that of a national statesman than a religious leader. Perhaps therein lies part of the problem.’
Fellow Tory Bill Cash, chairman of the Commons European scrutiny committee, said it was bizarre for a church that had its roots in a major schism with Europe to argue for closer union.
He added: ‘It is a matter for Parliament, not a matter for the Church of England. They are completely wrong and I’m not sure who they are representing. They should ask the people they would like to go to church what their views are. I suspect they will find at least 80 per cent want a referendum.’
In the strongly-worded report, the Church said the decision not to join the euro had left Britain ‘detached’ from discussions about the euro crisis.
It acknowledged that the public was becoming increasingly Eurosceptic, but said ministers should set out to make the positive case for the EU.
The report said: ‘British governments need to develop constructive and positive conceptions and commitments to the EU, sell these ideas to an increasingly sceptical domestic audience and find friends in Europe.
‘Unless it does so the UK could find itself slowly drifting towards the exit.That would be a travesty given the positive contribution that Britain has made to the EU since it joined in 1973.’
Dr Williams announced in March that he plans to stand down as Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of the year to return to academic life as master at a Cambridge University college.