British Prime Minister David
Cameron
has said that British voters will be offered the chance to
implement “real change” to the U.K.’s relationship with the
European Union at the next general election. Asked in a radio
interview for more details the prime minister did not elaborate,
saying his proposals will be explained in his speech on the E.U.
later this month.

The issue of Europe has been an irritation to Cameron, who has
had to endure
criticism from his
own party
and the increase in support being enjoyed by the eurosceptic
United Kingdom Independenc
Party.

Although many in the U.K. would like Cameron to offer an in/out
referendum on British membership of the E.U. there is almost no
chance that he will. Cameron believes that the U.K. should remain
in the E.U., an opinion that is not shared by most Britons. A

recent poll indicated that only 30 percent of Britons would
vote for British membership of the E.U. 

The dilemma that Cameron is faced with is that he is in a
coalition government with the Liberal Democrats, who oppose major
changes to the U.K.’s relationship with the E.U. The partnership
makes it difficult for Cameron to propose serious changes to
European policy. It would be a comparatively safe move to promise
only what the Conservatives will be offering in 2015, when the next
general election is scheduled to take place. An in/out referendum
now would not result in the outcome Cameron wants and could weaken
the coalition government.

However, some do not think that offering an in/out referendum
would result in bad consequences for Conservatives. The eurosceptic
Member for the European Parliament
Daniel Hannan thinks an in/out referendum would not be that
bad: 

When the Conservative Party trusts the electorate on the
question of the EU, its trust will be reciprocated. Conservatives
will start getting the benefit of the doubt on other issues. Tory
activists will be optimistic again, the decline in membership will
be halted and Right-of-Centre newspapers will recover their
enthusiasm. Everything will feel different. You’ll see. 

As the 2015 election approaches, voters will focus on what
Labour is offering. Do people really want to bring back Ed Miliband
and Ed Balls – the men who trashed our economy in the first place?
Do you feel reassured when you see either man on television?

Unfortunately for Hannan, it doesn’t look like there will be an
opportunity to find out if he is right.