The British Conservative Party remains deeply divided over Europe, having fallen out over the original Maastricht Treaty which wet in tow the beginnings of the current European Union. Many are dissatisfied with the loss of powers to Brussels and latest reports suggest the party is split 50:50 between those who will vote to leave the EU in the forthcoming In-Out referendum and those wishing to remain.
@David_Cameron Are you boys going to protect the NHS from @EU_TTIP_team
— Seán Webb (@seanwebb87) February 23, 2016
There had been calls for an adult debate, allowing all Conservative lawmakers — including ministers — to make their own cases. But all was blown apart when Cameron made his first statement to Parliament, which he used to pillory London Mayor Boris Johnson, who has angered the prime minister by voting for Brexit.
Sources close to the mayor, described as reliable, say Johnson is suggesting the option of a second referendum, if the majority vote to leave, forcing Brussels to improve its offer to Britain.
"We need to be bold. You have to show them that you are serious," he told friends according to a report in the Sunday Times.
Addressing the House of Commons for the first time since calling the date of the referendum, Cameron wasted no time in dealing with Johnson's idea. He told British lawmakers:
"An idea has been put forward that if the country voted to leave, we could have a second renegotiation and perhaps another referendum. I will not dwell on the irony that some people who want to vote to leave apparently want to use a 'leave' vote to remain, but such an approach also ignores more profound points about democracy, diplomacy and legality."
'For The Birds'
"On the diplomacy, the idea that other European countries would be ready to start a second negotiation is for the birds. […] And we should be clear that this process is not an invitation to re-join; it is a process for leaving. Sadly, I have known a number of couples who have begun divorce proceedings, but I do not know any who have begun divorce proceedings in order to renew their marriage vows," Cameron said.
The latter remark is taken to be a reference for previous issues within Johnson's own marriage and it is a continuation of what many saw as a very personal attack on Johnson by Cameron, who was deeply angered by Johnson's decision to text the prime minister his decision just seven minutes before going public.
The suggestion that the idea of a second referendum is "for the birds" — meaning 'only of interest to the gullible' — is seen as a cutting jibe at Johnson, who is seen as the lead contender as the next Conservative leader — particularly if Cameron fails to keep the UK within the EU.
Cameron spent 40 minutes with Johnson on the eve of his European Council summit trying to get the London mayor to back his campaign to remain in the EU. Johnson is a big-hitter in British politics and is loved by the largely Euroskeptic media. The vehemence of Cameron's personal attack on Johnson can be seen as a sign that Cameron feels greatly threatened by him, which does not auger well for the rest of the campaign, nor — indeed — for unity within the Conservative Party.
