Jim McConalogue @ Centre Right: "I note with real interest that apart from one Tory amendment made on the EU Budget 2011 debate which did not get through, Bill Cash did manage to get through his own effective amendment which says, “That this House takes note of European Union Document No. SEC(2010) 473, Statement of Estimates of the European Commission for the financial year 2011; and supports the Government's efforts to maintain the 2011 EU budget at the cash levels equivalent to the 2010 budget, while ensuring better value for money in EU expenditure; and calls on the Government to reject European Parliament proposals to increase the budget.” Despite incorrect suggestions on ConHome that this was somehow meek, it is in fact a real milestone.
"In the debate, Bill Cash made it clear, as he has consistently, that we must deal with the functions of the EU and the Budget with it – but in order to achieve this, the first step is to confirm and reassert parliamentary sovereignty in line with a Sovereignty Bill.
"This is not the thinking, work or actions of a meek approach to this subject – indeed, Cash’s amendment was accepted unanimously by the House. Cash made it clear in his speech that he supported the sentiments and objectives of cutting the Budget and furthermore, he insisted that this had to be done in a way that would help the Government to achieve the right results in the negotiations which (rather regrettably) are part and parcel of the continuous stream of legislation under the Treaties which he has opposed.
"Contrary to other comments, I believe that by achieving a unanimous acceptance of his amendment, Cash has achieved a significant advance in demonstrating that the UK Parliament will not be pushed around by the European Parliament." Read the post here.
