It appears that David Cameron met José Manuel Barroso last week

A fascinating post from Nick Watt on the Guardian blog this afternoon:

"Amid little fanfare last Friday, Cameron travelled to Brussels to meet José Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission. Barroso is hoping for a second term as commission president from next summer; if Cameron is elected prime minister in a spring 2009 election, his support would be crucial."

This is indeed the first I have heard of the visit, which took place the day before the party leader's visit to Belfast, which happened amid a considerable fanfare.

I don't recall seeing any notice about the Brussels trip among the many press releases and operational notes which the party sends out daily, although am happy to be corrected if I am wrong.

Nonetheless, I am curious. I've put in a call to Mr Cameron's spokesman and will let you know what I can find out about their encounter.

Jonathan Isaby

9.45pm update:

I got to speak to aforesaid spokesman at the Policy Exchange Christmas Party, who said that Mr Cameron had gone over to Brussels for a series of private meetings firstly at Nato with the Secretary-General and UK Permament Representative, where issues such as Afghanistan were discussed; he then went for a 45-minute meeting with Mr Barroso, after which he did apparently say a few words for a waiting BBC camera. DC's spokesman said that she would find the transcript of what he said and send it to me - and  I shall publish it if and when it arrives.

Comments

[Henry Mayhew - non-negative ukipper]

Great stuff. Well done.

I like the way Cam hasn't done this over the phone. He will have been able to put more pressure on face to face. Give him a break. Good move Cam.

[Eurorealist]

Clandestine meetings are very suspicious.

Why should CCHQ keep quiet about the Leader meeting the President of the Commission?

If they met, what did they discuss? EPP membership, renegotiation of Britain's membership under a Cameron government?

Does Barroso consider that Dave is one of those who matter, i.e. supports Britain joining the Eurozone?

We should be told!!

[AlanofEngland]

Surely such a visit would be to tell Barroso the price of the combined direct and indirect expenses of EU membership in 2008 costs Britain £55.775 billion, a price Britain cannot afford. Set out in the latest Bruges Group research, THE EFFECTS OF FREEING BRITAIN FROM THE EU:

A BOOST TO THE ECONOMY. As EU red tape is holding back the UK economy by £28 billion, 2% of UK GDP, it is clear that freeing Britain from EU control will get Britain out of recession and get British people back to work.

COST FREE TAX CUTS. As politicians of the three main parties are struggling to explain how they will deliver the tax cuts that the British economy needs they have failed to realise that this money can be found if we stop paying the EU billions of pounds per year of taxpayers’ money.

The 2% boost to economic growth created by leaving the EU and slashing its excessive red tape would also increase tax revenue by £10.73 billion. Combine that with the direct savings to the exchequer and it will allow for a 6p in the pound cut in the basic rate of income tax.

The EU runs the economics of the lunatic asylum and Mr Cameron should be saying he WILL hold an in/out referendum for the people to decide by democratic choice. If it's so good for us why are they frightened to ask us the question?

[Henry Mayhew - non-negative ukipper]

Maybe it wasn't clandestine, just non-publicised.

[rugfish]

Unfortunately I can smell a rat.

[Ray Finch]

Why does DC refuse to make these things public?
I smell a rat over his reluctance to deal with EU issues publicly.

[David_at_Home]

I can smell an entire pack of rats.

It might go something like "Unless you agree to go along with the Lisbon Treaty (with some face saving amendments for the UK rather like for Ireland), we will deploy the well oiled (and part UK funded) EU propaganda machine to ensure you do not win the next GE".

Of course, it would be put much more subtly than this.

[Tanuki]

Why is 'our' man supping with the enemy?

[pp]

I think we need to know whose yacht was used - barroso's or cameron's ?

[Lord Elvis]

Have a Blue Christmas!

[strapworld]

I certainly am concerned about this! David cameron needs to get on as many front pages as possible.

But a secret meeting in Brussels, and the 'spokespersons; remarks are just not good enough.

Why did he not take William Hague with him?
This was most certainly foreign affairs! If at Nato why did he not take Dr Fox? this was most certainly defence matters! I am sorry 'private meetings' stinks!

There is something about David Cameron that worries me.

[Richard Carey]

An interesting thread - some thoughts and replies to other posters.

Henry Mayhew - Thank you for a constructive comment. I did, though, have to do a double take when one of the few positive comments was from an opposition supporter! Of course DC has, as Leader of HM's Loyal Opposition and I hope (from my point of view!) our next PM, to have cordial and detailed relationships with officials in international institutions. Whatever your personal view is on whether we should be an integral part of those or not, it doesn't change that. I can't help but think that if the meeting had been with the head of the World Bank, the IMF or the UNHCR, the tone of this thread would have been a little different!

AlanOfEngland - perhaps DC was teaching Barroso to use his Caps Lock key sparingly!

DavidAtHome: I can smell an entire pack of rats. I'm sure you can. As a less than constructive UKIP supporter posting here, maybe you might think that the smell is a little closer to home.

Tanuki: Why is 'our' man supping with the enemy? Enemy is a little strong, given my comments above regarding relations with international institutions! If anything, isn't your post proof of the adage that the enemy sits behind you??

[Robert Eve]

The thing about Cameron that worries me is his weak attitude towards the EU.

[Jonnyboy]

Richard Carey

If you care for and desire an independant self-governing country then Barosso and the eu are the enemy. With which (although not UKIP) I agree.

[Barry Williams]

Some people do get excitable, jumping to negative conclusions, do grow up in the real world you have to deal with it as it is.

Much as I would like to see us exit the Soviet Socialist European Union, we will still be members when DC becomes PM and will need to work the present system, at least initiially.

[Richard North]

Perhaps he was there to discuss the EU Navy.

[Alex]

If we have more constructive comments like the one from

Robert Eve | December 09, 2008 at 22:42

... then this website will be the envy of the UK political blogosphere

[Sally Roberts]

Richard Carey - well fisked! My only comment to add is to ask why this story was published at this stage? Would it not have been better to wait until more facts were known.

[Effy Hugh]

Expect plenty more sneaking, ducking and diving from David Cameron, especially when he becomes Prime Minister. The prospect of the first Tory government of the 21st century, led by an unspecifying Leader like Cameron, is going to lead to almighty fireworks on the EU issue.

[Sally Roberts]

Welcome back, Effie! It IS you, isn't it? ;-)

[Jack Stone]

This article is absolutely astonishing. It makes it sound as if Cameron as had a meeting with Hitler!! Barroso is the person who runs the European Union of which we are a part not some sort of devil in disquise.

[JS]

This meeting should be welcomed. Let us hope that it leads to a more enlightened, supportive, positive and mature attitude by the whole party to the UK's membership of the EU. It is high time a lot of people removed their blinkers on this.

[Ian Bennett]

If I was William Hague I'd be FURIOUS!

This is cowardly and duplicitous...

DC must ONCE AND FOR all come clean to the Party Membership regarding his EU vision and credentials..

I do not want a Party Manifesto foisted on us next year by DC and his cohorts selling us short on the EU in the hope - the vain hope - of skirting of hiding the issue.

IF CAMERON CANNOT BACK THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PARTY MEMBERSHIP - HE MUST BE OUSTED...

Nigel Farage - you'd better get some membership forms printed QUICK...I predict a deluge!

[IRJMilne]

I agree with Henry Mayhew.

[IRJMilne]

"Barroso is the person who runs the European Union of which we are a part not some sort of devil in disquise."

This, on the other hand, is the issue with this piece. We do not want to be run by a foreigner acting in the interests of foreigners.

However, I see no reason to believe he was merely going to Brussels to "take instructions", as it were.

[Paula Fox]

I am still waiting for a response from David Cameron as to whether or not he is an exponent of 'Common Purpose'. I've asked him twice and still no reply. I wonder why?

[Sally Roberts]

I don't normally find myself agreeing with anything Jack Stone says, but on this he is absolutely right! I think we should wait until we know more before we try to pass judgement.

[Ronnie S]

Perhaps because he (like me) hasn't got a clue what on earth you are on about Paula?

[AN]

"Nigel Farage - you'd better get some membership forms printed QUICK...I predict a deluge!" - Ian Bennett @ 11.22

Since DC has been Leader, UKIP membership has halved and apparentrly they are down to their last £50K - if they hadn't had all that lovely EU Parliament money sloshing into their coffers they'd have gone bust some time ago...

[JS]

Ian [email protected] predicts a deluge towards UKIP - lemmings were never noted for their intelligence.