252 The European Union – United or divided? M11 Britain to leave the EU? M 12 The Daily Express campaign 2.3 Britain’s role in Europe David Cameron was accused of taking dangerous gamble with Britain’s economic future last night, after he bowed to Eurosceptic demands for an in/out referendum on membership of the European Union. The Prime Minister insisted he was optimistic of winning a “new settlement” for Britain in Europe, saying he wanted to recommend staying in a reformed EU. He promised the British people that they will decide the UK’s destiny by the end of 2017 if the Tories win the 2015 general election. But other EU leaders reacted with hostility to his demands and Labour and the Liberal Democrats warned that his gamble could backfire. They said his premature pledge would create five years of uncertainty in which Britain could lose job-creating foreign investment. Andrew Grice, The Independent, 24 January 2013 In 2013 the newspaper “Daily Express” started a public campaign promoting Britain’s dissociation from the EU. From now on, our energies will be directed to furthering the cause of those who believe Britain is Better Off Out. The famous and symbolic Crusader who adorns our masthead will become the figurehead of the struggle to repatriate British sovereignty from a political project that has comprehensively failed people right across Europe. After far too many years as the victims of Brussels larceny, bullying, over-regulation and all-round interference, the time has come for the British people to win back their country and restore legitimacy and accountability to their political process. Following the debacle of the Lisbon Treaty – disgracefully imposed upon the public without the referendum they were promised by the three main political parties – many had expected matters European to take a lower profile in British politics. But the opposite has been true as those on board the European gravy train have mounted one power grab after another. At a time of austerity throughout Europe they have expanded their already bloated budgets, pushing Britain’s disproportionate contributions even higher. And despite not being part of the failing Eurozone, British taxpayers have learned that under Brussels rules agreed to by Labour after it had lost the election they are liable to help bail out economies wrecked by the single currency. A payment of up to £ 10 billion for Ireland is apparently just the start with speculators now starting to target the embattled economy of Portugal. […] This newspaper has always been hostile to the dilution of national sovereignty that EU membership entailed, but it has also always acknowledged that economic arguments were key. So long as there was a case to be made that leaL A Y O U T B I L D Daily Express front page, 23 May 2013 5 10 15 20 25 5 10 30 15 71051_1_1_2015_Inhalt_4.indd 25 21.01.15 10:40 Nu zu P üf zw ec ke n Ei g nt um d es C .C .B uc hn er V er la gs