Ex-MP in Europe call

FORMER Lewes MP Tim Rathbone made a rare public appearance in Lewes on Thursday last week to plead the cause of Britain in Europe.

FORMER Lewes MP Tim Rathbone made a rare public appearance in Lewes on Thursday last week to plead the cause of Britain in Europe.

He told 40 members of the European Movement at a lunch in Shelleys that there was an overwhelming case for Britain to have greater confidence in European matters and to be a more positive force in moulding Europe's future.

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Mr Rathbone lost his Lewes seat to Norman Baker (LibDem) by a narrow margin five years ago.

He was later expelled from the Conservative Party for criticising its stance in Europe.

'Attitudes'

He told his Shelleys audience: 'The trouble still with too many British attitudes towards the European Union are worrying confusions of confidence.

'On the one hand there is over-confidence in Britain's ability to prosper at arms length from important European Union decisions and developments in order to avoid becoming involved in what is thought to be an uncontrolled slide towards submersion in a super-State.

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'On the other hand, this overconfidence in Britain's insular position seems to be matched by a surprising lack of confidence in Britain's ability to influence the evolution of the European Union to mutual benefit.

'This lack of confidence is all the more peculiar now as the three main thrusts of EU policy-making are all in directions which Britain has advocated and which suit British interests enlargement, economic reform and a more effective European security effort.'

Britain had centuries of experience of democratic development, and of trade and commerce around the world, he added.

It also brought with it a revitalised ability to grab opportunities and a commitment to help the underdog, as well as enable the successful to succeed.

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'Too many British politicians and too much of the British media must share blame for promoting a belief in us, the British, against them, the European continentals,' he continued.

'Everything is seen as win or lose. That in turn has bred the present confusions of confidence among so many people here. There is now, more an ever, an overwhelming case for Britain to have greater confidence in European matters and be a more positive force in moulding our own and Europe's future.