Backbench high spirits give lift to Cameron / Rift opens in coalition over veto / Summit veto divides UK business community / Balls attacks ‘catastrophic’ EU leadership

Articles discusses the background to the negotiating line the United Kingdom took at the European Council, Brussels, 8-9 December 2011 on the eurozone debt crisis, which left the UK isolated and Tory eurosceptics delighted.

Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg spent Sunday 11 December 2011 desperately trying to distance himself from David Cameron’s 'potentially damaging' use of the veto in Brussels on the 9 December 2011, insisting he would 'fight, fight and fight again' to retain Britain’s influence in Europe.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown said 'The eurosceptic, anti-European prejudice for year after year, supported by many of the newspapers, has now built up an anti-British prejudice in Europe and we’re paying a very, very high price for that'.

The UK decision to veto a pact aimed at saving the euro was said to have divided Britain’s financial and business community.

The Economist, No.8763, 10.12.11: Charlemagne: Those obstructive Brits http://www.economist.com/node/21541416

CER: Opinion: David Cameron has left the City more, not less, vulnerable to EU law, December 2011 http://www.cer.org.uk/in-the-press/david-cameron-has-left-city-more-not-less-vulnerable-eu-law

CER: Opinion: Who wins from David Cameron's veto - Britain or the EU?, December 2011 http://www.cer.org.uk/in-the-press/who-wins-david-camerons-veto-britain-or-eu

ESO: Background information: Cameron isolated after wielding veto / Britain agrees two-speed Europe / Eurosceptics celebrate use of veto http://www.europeansources.info/record/cameron-isolated-after-wielding-veto-britain-agrees-two-speed-europe-eurosceptics-celebrate-use-of-veto-fears-city-will-be-left-exposed/

ESO: Background information: Eurozone countries sign-up to closer ties http://www.europeansources.info/record/eurozone-countries-sign-up-to-closer-ties/

BBC News, 11.12.11: Nick Clegg warns European veto 'bad for Britain' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16129004

Deutsche Welle, 9.12.11: Eurozone nations plan to go it alone, decide against treaty change http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15586246,00.html

Spiegel Online International, 10.12.11: Britain and the EU. The Failure of a Forced Marriage http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,802933,00.html

EurActiv, 12.12.11: Cameron's EU veto rattles UK coalition http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/camerons-eu-veto-rattles-uk-coal-news-509611

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