Hague rejects Eurosceptic calls

William Hague today accused Conservatives who want to take the UK out of the EU for being short-sighted – just hours after hundreds of activists gathered to back a campaign for withdrawal.

The shadow foreign secretary told the Tory party conference in Bournemouth that although he backed less political integration of EU states, it would be "extraordinary" and "myopic" to advocate pulling out of the union altogether.

His comments – which were met with loud applause from delegates – came less than two hours after a packed fringe meeting organised by the 'Better Off Out' campaign heard two Conservative MEPs and one MP argue the case for withdrawal.

Philip Davies MP described the EU as an "inward-looking, backward-looking protection racket" that would cost British taxpayers £100,000 a minute next year.

He argued this cost was unnecessary, saying the only benefits from membership could be accrued through a free trade agreement with EU countries, such as that enjoyed by Norway, Switzerland and Iceland.

His comments were supported by Daniel Hannan, a Tory MEP since 1999, who argued that EU withdrawal was crucial to restore some sense of democracy in Britain and end a situation where "unelected Eurocrats" were running everything.

Roger Helmer MEP, who recently had the Conservative whip restored after it was withdrawn in May last year, was also present at the meeting. He argued: "Europe is making us poorer and less democratic and less free."

"We have been trying to reform the EU from the inside, but the EU is beyond reform and deserves to be put out of its misery," Mr Helmer said.

Mr Helmer, who has also been an MEP since 1999, suggested that where most politicians used to accept the benefits of the EU, "suddenly the idea that we can reclaim our independence is moving into the centre of political debate".

However, within hours Mr Hague slapped this idea down by stating his support for the European Union, albeit in a moderated form.

The former Tory leader repeated his party's pledge to have a referendum before any more powers were transferred to Brussels, and condemned Tony Blair's "shameful surrender" of £7 billion of Britain's EU rebate last year.

But he stressed that where they had previously been seen as the "nay-sayers" on Europe, the Conservatives must now provide a "new leadership" for Europe.

"As we champion a new vision for Europe, and make great friendships among its newest members, it would be extraordinary for us to turn our backs on them and myopic to advocate withdrawal," Mr Hague said to loud applause.

"I am as convinced as ever that our place is to be in Europe but not run by Europe."

The leader of the Conservatives in the European parliament, Timothy Kirkhope, told delegates in Bournemouth this afternoon that the EU could be reformed, and insisted his MEPs were "already building a new agenda for Europe".

David Cameron recently promised to take Tory MEPs out of the European People's party (EPP) grouping in the European parliament by 2009, when it would form a new group with the Czech democrats.

Mr Kirkhope said today: "We Conservatives know what we want. A Europe of nation states, a Europe of free markets, a Europe that does less, but does it better.

"This is the prize. This is the challenge. A new direction for Europe, a new alliance for a reformed Europe. In short, a truly Conservative Europe."