1064

THE WEEKLY WORLD EDITION OF The Daily Telegraph AND The Sunday Telegraph

December 14 - 20 2011 No. 1064

telegraph.co.uk/expat

The Telegraph

FAILED EXAMS Investigation reveals rotten heart of British education

:: NEWS PAGE 4

Brush off from Sarkozy as tensions mount

Russia protest 50,000 -strong rally chants for Putin to go :: NEWS P3

By James Kirkup and Bruno Waterfield in Brussels DAVID CAMERON took a decisive step to distance Britain from the European Union last Friday as he became the first prime minister to veto the drawing up of a new EU treaty.

Mr Cameron provoked widespread anger among European leaders by refusing to back a deal to rescue the eurozone, delighting Tories and raising questions about Britain’s future in the EU.

After Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, led objections to his “unacceptable” demands for legal protections for the City of London, the Prime Minister refused to give Britain’s backing for a new treaty to create a “fiscal union” among eurozone members.

At the end of an acrimonious summit in Brussels, all 26 other EU members signalled they could now support the new treaty, leaving Britain in a minority of one.

Conservative MPs welcomed Britain’s move back towards the traditional Tory stance of “splendid isolation” in Europe — a term for the foreign policy of the late 19th century.

Liberal Democrats said the move would reduce Britain’s influence. Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, raised fears of a “two-speed Europe”, a prospect rejected by Conservative ministers.

But as the impact of the

INSIDE Cracks in the Coalition p2 Editorial comment p19 Peter Oborne p19 Janet Daley p20

move sank in, members of Mr Cameron’s Cabinet began to voice concerns.

European leaders and Tory sceptics alike suggested that Mr Cameron had set Britain on a course that could end with departure from the EU. The Prime Minister insisted he was committed to the EU, but acknowledged the uncertainties he had unleashed. “Membership is in

Continued on page 2

David Cameron holds out his hand towards Nicolas Sarkozy, but appears to be ignored. Mr Cameron then swiftly taps his arm instead as he passes Mr Sarkozy, in a moment that seemed to confirm the tension between the Prime Minister and the French president at the acrimonious summit meeting in Brussels at which Britain vetoed the drawing up of a new treaty.

Blown away Wind turbines catch fire as high winds ravage Scotland :: NEWS P6-7

Climate deal Last-minute agreement ‘to save the planet’ :: NEWS P5

‘You may turn over the question paper and feign surprise’