Cameron has overseen “the most significant decline in British influence in Europe for a generation,” says Alexander

Today Douglas Alexander, Shadow Foreign Secretary, is heading to the other side of the Channel to meet with France’s foreign minister, Laurent Fabius.

While he’s there, it’s thought Alexander will lambast David Cameron’s record on the EU. He is expected to say the PM has presided over “the most significant decline in British influence in Europe for a generation”. Alexander will explain:

 “there is a consensus among EU member states around the need for reform of the EU, but instead of seizing opportunities, David Cameron has squandered them. Instead of building bridges, he burnt them.”

He will go on to outline that Labour will  “review, repair and reset” Britain’s relationship with the EU. He’ll also explain that he thinks Labour could oversee significant reforms without leaving the EU, this would include organising a number of summits in London with other European leaders.

He will also say:

“This isn’t just about a sense of European solidarity, it’s also about Britain’s national interest. Our place at Europe’s top table has made the UK stronger, more secure, and more prosperous.

“Unlike David Cameron, Labour believes that the UK will stand taller in Washington, Beijing, Moscow and Delhi – when we stand firmly at the heart of the EU. The idea that our influence in world capitals would grow as our influence in Europe diminished is not just a Eurosceptic fantasy, but a post-Imperial delusion.

“Under David Cameron, Europe risks becoming seen as a dirty word in Whitehall. That has to change, and so Labour will review how – through the work of British officials and UKRep – the UK is represented in Brussels. 

“This general election will be decisive for Britain’s place and standing in Europe. The prospect of a second-term Conservative government could see Britain stumble out of Europe altogether. That risk is real, but so too is Labour’s determination to make the case that the right road for Britain is reform in Europe, not exit from Europe.”