David Cameron is “pathetic” and “gutless”, said Monday’s Sun, because his European Union “renegotiation amounts to nothing more than whistling in the dark.”
The prime minister’s “faltering bid to secure EU reform” has “descended into farce”, said the Daily Mail, reiterating views also expressed in its front page splash, “Show some steel, Dave”
Both newspapers were exercised by weekend reports (based on anonymous briefings) that Cameron may cave in on his demand for a four-year moratorium on benefit claims for EU workers in Britain.
Boris Johnson added to his party leader’s embarrassment. In his Daily Telegraph column, which formed the basis of a prominent front page news article, he called on Cameron to secure a Danish-style opt-out in order to restrict migrant benefits.
The Daily Express’s Leo McKinstry predicted that Cameron is “heading for humiliation” over his EU renegotiation as he demonstrates the “enfeebled rhetoric of compromise and surrender.”
But the right did not have a monopoly on criticising Cameron’s apparent U-turn. The Daily Mirror was only too delighted to report that his negotiations were in “chaos”.
And the Guardian’s Zoe Williams scorned the prime minister’s entire “reform” enterprise by questioning both his logic and his agenda (and the illegality of his curbing of migrants’ benefits).
Even if the restriction was workable, she wrote, “it would represent a complete misunderstanding of the problems it claims to address.” And she concluded:
“It was simply a stupid idea, from the ramshackle mind at the top of a dishevelled government.”
Here, in just one day’s coverage, was the perfect illustration of Cameron’s implausible stance. He cannot satisfy the Eurosceptics (press and politicians) because his demands do not address their aggressive anti-EU, anti-migrant views.
He cannot satisfy the Europhiles because they read into his reform efforts a sinister ulterior motive - a preparing of the ground for Brexit.
Cameron has certainly lost his rightwing. As the final paragraph in the Telegraph’s editorial noted: “Mr Cameron has already disappointed Tory Eurosceptics by failing to seek a repatriation of powers and sovereignty. But the people he really needs to convince are the wider electorate.”
Exactly. How will a prime minister without a coherent plan, without a vision and without any political ideology beyond pragmatism hold sway come the referendum?
Similarly, when newspaper publishers and editors are confronted by the reality of quitting the EU, will they also have pause for thought?
And, even if they do, will it be too late to convince their readers of a change of heart after years spent denigrating Brussels and all its works?
