Now’s the time for policy and ideas, not complacency on Europe

Joe Cookson argues that even though the average Conservative lead in the polls is around 20 points, a separate poll has revealed that the public trust Labour 25 per cent to 24 per cent over the Conservatives, on what should surely be natural Tory territory, Europe. Since Cameron is not ‘light years ahead of his party’ as commentators are avowing, and if the Tories fail to present standpoints on a post-ratification referendum on Lisbon, taking back economic and social powers from Brussels currently undermining governance from Westminster, and the logistics of withdrawing from prohibitive international legislation like the Human Rights Act or amending the European Communities Act, then the popularity of the party might nose-dive once again.