The author recalls the high hopes with which Blair entered power in 1997, and the extreme difficulty of devising a viable European policy.
“The Treasury Finance Ministry view of the world isn’t about structural reform to increase the productive capacity of the economy.”
Whitehall has at times imperilled its reputation for neutrality, but there remains a positive ‘can-do’ attitude about Brexit. The Government should harness it.
If you don’t like what the Treasury’s up to, criticise the Chancellor, who’s accountable for it – not those who work for him, who aren’t.
In the wake of the Paris bombings, the second of our profiles on European countries and institutions – and their role in Cameron’s EU renegotiation.