14/06/2015
Readers closely following the ins and outs of the progress of the EU referendum "no" campaign were yesterday treated to the lofty view of the fragrant Mr Moore, who
grandly informed us that the "no lot" are attacking one another about who is the truest, bravest patriot among them.
This marginally patronising "take" on the state of the EU referendum campaign then gave way to the "pleasant surprise" of a discovery that the beginnings of a "no campaign" will be announced soon.
"Despite all the squabbling", we are told, "an all-party group is coming together". From this, Charles Moore then tells us, "it will emerge the official, designated campaign which the law requires. This can then receive donations and secure equal rights of representation on television and radio".
It is not impossible, in a few weeks' time, Moore continues, that someone, somewhere, might start thinking about the concerns of actual voters in all of this.
From the
Sunday Telegraph, though., the news of a "growing Tory revolts confronting David Cameron, as the Conservatives for Britain, organisation has expanded from just over 50 members last weekend to include 110 Tory MPs.
A further 12 MEPs and 13 peers are also supporting for the organisation, "a development will be a further blow to the Prime Minister's authority over his party, which has already been undermined over Europe".
About a fifth of members believe a satisfactory deal is "unlikely" and therefore expect to campaign to leave the EU, about three fifths think a successful renegotiation is possible and will make a decision when the renegotiated position becomes clear. Many of them would vote to leave if the question were tomorrow on the present basis. Others could choose to support Mr Cameron, whatever he achieves.
This is one of the three "for Britain" groups, and all three say they will await the outcome of Cameron's renegotiation before deciding which way to jump. But key figures in all of them are frustrated that Cameron's initial demands have been slimmed down to four: cuts to EU migrants' benefits, more powers for national parliaments, more protection for non-eurozone countries and an end to the principle of "ever-closer union".
What they are not saying though, is where they stand should Mr Cameron not reveal his hand until the very last moment â which is why he might be so keen to abolish the purdah period. Long before that, the Electoral Commission will be asking for submissions for lead campaigners, and it is hard to see how groups officially taking a "maybe" stance can qualify to lead a "no" campaign.
Nevertheless, veteran campaigner Dominic Cummings has been enlisted to kick-start the "no" campaign. We are told that he will try to line up a range of politicians, businessmen and celebrities to make the argument, just as he did on the euro. Yet sources close to the "out" camp admit it is "playing catch-up".
Cummings's main task, says the
Sunday Times will be to bring together parties, personalities, think tanks and pressure groups in the eurosceptic world.
Insiders quote the Monty Python film
Life of Brian. "Itâs all a bit People's Front of Judea versus the Judean People's Front", said one campaigner. "But we do all agree that the EU are the Romans and they haven't done much for us. Dom's job is to get everyone singing from the same hymn sheet".
The other issue is Nigel Farage, who expects a big role in the "no" camp but has not yet been consulted. Many Conservatives fear he will alienate moderate voters who would be needed to win the referendum, although he is already pledged to starting up a campaign "on the ground" by September.
This may or may not be the campaign reported by the
Sunday Express which has "business leaders" having pledged millions of pounds to support the international campaign, in which politicians have been banned from taking part. That hardly seems a Ukip enterprise.
One millionaire donor has even offered to underwrite the entire cost of the £7 million launch, which is to take place in the second week of September, while one of those "source" things says: "This is going to be the official 'no' campaign but it is not going to involve any politicians".
"We know", he says, "that the 'yes' campaign is going to be run by politicians but we want ours to be run by people who have a personal stake in the future of this country, not politicians who often have a vested interest".
The organisers have already engaged an advertising agency and are actively seeking to recruit a prominent political strategist from either America or the UK to co-ordinate the campaign. They are also in the process of setting up fundraising and organising committees in each of the Commonwealth countries.
The source added: "Our message will be a positive one about voting to leave the EU so we can take Britain global".
Those behind the campaign are expected to remain anonymous until its launch in the autumn. However, the organisers say they are busy recruiting prominent businessmen and women, celebrities, sportsmen and women and ambassadors from every walk of life to support the campaign. The group is also preparing to commission an independent study of the financial consequences of leaving the EU.
So, that
accounts for the People's Front of Judea and the Judean People's Front, but the Popular Front of Judea has yet to put in an appearance. Then there's our effort. We'll be along shortly.
