Party Political Divide Over PM's EU Snub

Unionists have been backing the Prime Minister's 'veto' move on a European Union plan that aimed to protect the Euro economy - while nationalists have condemned the move.

DUP MP Nigel Dodds (pictured) said today that he is to introduce a motion in the House of Commons congratulating David Cameron and calling for the UK to effectively, "claw back powers from Europe".

The DUP Deputy Leader said the PM did the right thing when he vetoed agreement in the European Union.

On BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme on Monday, Mr Dodds said: "Now we have a situation where, for instance, the Irish Republic has been told, you are only going to borrow so much and you might have to do away with your corporation tax.

"I don't think in the long run that kind of approach, one size fits all in Europe, is going to actually lead to the kind of growth economically that all countries need in order to make their economies prosperous and work well."

However, Stormont Environment Minister Alex Attwood wants political leaders to challenge Mr Cameron's move.

The SDLP's Mr Attwood said the decision could have major implications for the devolved administrations.

The Alliance Party's Chris Lyttle also opposed the veto and told a Stormont Assembly debate on the issue today that he shared SDLP concerns about what he called the "hasty" use of the veto.

However, Mr Dodd's DUP vision of Europe has been backed by the Ulster Unionist MEP, Jim Nicholson.

He said that he welcomed the use of the British veto over a new EU-wide treaty by Prime Minister David Cameron during the all night negotiations in Brussels aimed at ending the Eurozone crisis.

"David Cameron was correct in effectively vetoing a new treaty and keeping the United Kingdom out of this new economic accord agreed at the EU emergency summit, just as the UK was right not to join the Euro in the first place.

"It is not the responsibility of others to solve the problems the Euro countries have got themselves into.

"I can only hope that after eight summits they have found the right solution to the crisis that is engulfing the continent. However, I remain to be convinced," he said.

The political confusion continues as the Prime Minister's highly controversial decision not to support the European plan to save the single currency has prompted his pro-European deputy to speak out against the move.

Nick Clegg called the decision "a bitter disappointment" and said Britain risked becoming "isolated and marginalised" from the European Union members.

(BMcC)