Hague : Britain could benefit from looser EU ties

Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague has said that Britain could benefit by loosening its ties with Europe. He suggested the UK could "get ahead" by being distant from the European Union in areas other than the euro. But he said the presence of the Liberal Democrats in the coalition government meant he had not been able to do exactly as he wanted on Europe. "It''s an area we''ve had to compromise on in return for other compromises," he told the Times in an interview published today. Hague suggested that Britain might do better by setting itself apart from the continent in the same way that it had done over the issue of the single currency. "It''s true of the euro, it could be true of more areas in future. In fact we may get ahead as a result of being outside," he added. He said the creation of the eurozone without closer tax and spending rules was "always a giant mistake" and it "would stand as a monument in time to how group–think can go so seriously away from what is realistic". Prime Minister David Cameron has come under increasing pressure to hold an "in or out" referendum on Europe. Earlier this week a 100,000–name petition was delivered to Downing Street, enough to trigger consideration of a parliamentary debate on the issue, according to the Telegraph. Hague''s comments come after some Conservative MPs accused Prime Minister David Cameron of listening too much to Deputy PM Nick Clegg''s pro-Europe views. Some 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for a referendum on EU membership, enough signatures to trigger consideration of a parliamentary debate on the issue. And about 80 Tory MPs are currently preparing to discuss ways of pressing for a renegotiation of the UK''s position. On Monday, they are expected to attend the first meeting of a new umbrella group designed to air grievances over Europe and build a platform for influencing government policy, the BBC said. The gathering is designed to create a focused strategy out of different Conservative concerns and demands for action, ranging from changes to EU institutions such as the European Court of Justice, the repatriation of powers to the UK and outright withdrawal from the EU.