The Europe Dilemma

Reviews / Votes

Riveting and realistic, this book offers by far the best-informed analysis I have read of the European dilemmas facing modern British Governments, as well as the most cogent argument for European solutions to our national challenges. Sir Stephen Wall, formerly Britain's Permanent Representative to the European Union 'This is a hard-hitting account of the frustrating politics of British European policy across the decades from an insider who persists in holding to a positive case for full-hearted British engagement in Europe. Roger Liddle provides a fine-grained analysis of the squandered opportunities as well as the achievements of New Labour's period in office and offers salutary comments on the dilemmas facing the Conservative Party and future governments. He is surely right in arguing that for the British to be at ease with Europe requires conviction in their souls and not only appeals to their pocket books.' Dame Helen Wallace, Emeritus Professor in the European Institute, LSE 'Roger Liddle's analysis of 'how we got here' is interesting and as expected well-informed but it's his reflections on the approach pro-Europeans should take which could add a new dimension to the debate. Pro-Europeans have sometimes seemed to be in a competitive bidding process with eurosceptics as to what powers we can repatriate, and far can we chip away at the role of the EU. This is dead-end reasoning. Liddle makes a compelling case for an alternative and bolder British EU agenda.' Julian Priestley, Secretary-General of the European Parliament 1997-2007 'Roger Liddle offers a fresh and shrewd account of the many missed opportunities in Britain's relations with the EU- including a frank assessment of the disappointments of Tony Blair, whom he served as an adviser in Downing Street. He concludes with an alternative view of how the UK could still play a positive and constructive role in Europe.' Peter Riddell, Director of the Institute for Government