An increasingly desperate Cameron is thrashing about trying to appease angry voters, angry Tory party members and an irritated Europe. His latest speech offers proposals which, if agreed by the EU and that is a big if, would deal with the emotional objection to migrants claiming benefits as soon a they get here and sending such things as child benefit to families who do not live here. This is a move to appease, but it is unlikely to significantly reduce numbers. Britain is seen as a land of opportunity for those willing to work for low wage jobs, which Brits leave vacant. So people will still come even if they do not get benefits. It is also true that EU migrants pay more in taxes than they take in benefits, so the country actually makes a profit.
The problems is as much one of perception in the country at large but in some areas one of real social stress and difficulty, with strains on education, welfare, health and housing and this has to be addressed. In order to appease UKIP all sorts of proposals will fly, yet whatever the impact on Europe, there will be none on UKIP and its allies in the Tory Right. They just want out and say talking is a waste of time.
Europe is certainly about trade, but above all it is about peace, stability, freedom and unity. Nations which have over centuries spilled so much blood killing each other that the volume is beyond measure, are now at peace and working together. Yes there are problems between the rich north and poor south and yes the euro has to be organised through shared sovereignty and strong governance. But these problems are as nothing to what has gone before. Europe united into the EU is one of the greatest political achievements in all of human history. Britain is lucky to be a member and those of us alive today are lucky that this is our time. Those of us with children and grandchildren can look forward with more hope than any previous generation that death upon a battlefield is not their destiny.
And who among our nervous leaders is making this case today? Two elderly grandees, Ken Clarke and Michael (Lord) Heseltine. No others have the guts. That is why UKIP is making the political weather and setting Cameron’s agenda.