Nick Clegg 'furious' at David Cameron's Europe veto
Nick Clegg is unhappy with prime minister David Cameron
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Sunday, 11, Dec 2011 08:54
By Jamie Smith
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg is said to be "furious" at the tactics used by David Cameron in Europe this week, as he used a veto to effectively pull the UK out of a proposed treaty.
A source was quoted by the Observer as saying Liberal Democrat leader Mr Clegg "couldn't believe it" when he was woken to be told what Mr Cameron had done.
He was informed talks in Brussels aimed at saving the euro had "spectacularly unravelled", before Mr Cameron decided to pull the UK out of the talks.
"A menu of choices wasn't deployed as a negotiating tool, but instead was presented as a take it or leave it ultimatum," he insider told the newspaper.
Some MPs now view the issue of Europe as a "dealbreaker" between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives, perhaps putting the future of the coalition government in doubt.
Mr Clegg was said to fear Britain is now risking being left as the "lonely man of Europe" as a result of the actions of the prime minister this week.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, foreign secretary William Hague claimed the coalition was fully behind the veto by Mr Cameron.