Gilmore warns UK over EU membership

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has issued a strong warning to Britain that it will not be allowed to become a semi-detached member of the EU.

As pressure increases on David Cameron to demand a renegotiation of Britain’s position in the union from within his own Conservative Party, Mr Gilmore warned flexibility could only go so far.

“There are areas where countries do not have to participate and there is a degree of flexibility on that.

“But I think where there cannot be flexibility is on the core conditions of membership. You cannot have a European Union if you end up with 27 different forms of membership.

“I believe that what we need to concentrate on now at this critical time are on the things that Europe needs to do to generate employment and to get growth back into the European economy,” Mr Gilmore told Sky News

Mr Cameron is facing a huge challenge to hold his party together as battle lines are drawn over Europe.

With just a week until his crunch speech on Britain’s relationship with the EU, Tory Europhiles have launched a fightback against demands for an in-out referendum.

Around 20 Tory MP have also apparently signed a letter, due to be published this week, warning of “massive damage” if the UK leaves the EU.

Rumours are swirling that Downing St has given tacit approval to efforts to highlight the dangers of an exit.

In an unusual intervention last week, senior US diplomat Philip Gordon openly stated that America wanted Britain to remain in the EU.

Prominent business figures, including Richard Branson and PR guru Roland Rudd, have also spoken out about the potentially dire consequences of severing ties.

Sources at the weekend said Mr Cameron believes it is “mad” to think that Britain can go it alone.

And Tory backbencher Robert Buckland, who has organised the pro-membership letter, said he had been informed that No 10 regarded his efforts as “helpful”.

“There is a silent majority out there who do not want Britain to leave the EU. The danger for the Tories is that because the Right-wing Eurosceptics are making the most noise, we could slide towards the exit door of the EU.”