Evening Standard comment: This EU demand puts petrol on the fire

 
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The EU’s demand for an additional British payment of £1.7 billion could scarcely have come at a worse time for the Prime Minister.

The top-up is being demanded by Brussels because of changes to calculations of member states’ growth and thus their budget contributions. Our stronger economy is said to justify the increased amount, along with the Netherlands; similar demands to struggling Italy and Greece seem more bizarre. Equally inflammatory are proposed rebates for France and Germany.

Britain should pay its fair share — £8.6 billion last year — of the cost of the EU’s administration. That will inevitably be one of the larger shares since Britain’s is the third-biggest economy in the EU, and will be subject to adjustment. But the latest demands seem unjust, especially in view of the rebate ordered for France, which looks like a reward for the mismanagement of its budget and economy. David Cameron is meeting Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte to discuss how both nations can challenge the demand.

Equally important for Mr Cameron, however, will be the political fallout at home from this development. The Tories are locked in a desperate by-election battle with Ukip in Rochester and Strood: it is vital for the PM that his party wins the November 20 contest in order to halt the slide in the Tories’ fortunes and further defections to Ukip. The EU’s demand for a major hike in contributions throws petrol on the fire — and leaves Mr Cameron fighting on two fronts. It would be ironic indeed if in so doing, Brussels strengthened anti-EU voices in the UK.

Football changes lives

Queens Park Rangers have given this paper’s London United campaign to train disadvantaged young people as football coaches a major boost, with their decision to employ two of the youngsters. QPR are the first Premier League side to do so. Two coaches will be selected from 20 London United trainees chosen to go to the next level of the FA’s training scheme; they will coach in the QPR in the Community Trust.

This is a fine example of our campaign’s aim to use the power of football to change young lives. Already those youngsters chosen to take part in free FA Level 1 training as coaches are being given purpose, routine and hope in their lives; now the lucky ones chosen by QPR will get jobs as well. And it is an example, too, of QPR’s commitment to their local community — an involvement that has already seen England star Raheem Sterling plucked from an estate to be given his break in football with the club, via their social inclusion Kicks programme. Hiring the young coaches is one small step in tackling the challenges faced by our city’s dispossessed — but a hugely positive one.

The cost of a vote

Sadiq Khan MP has become the latest prominent London Labour figure — and mooted mayoral candidate — to protest against the proposed costs of voting in Labour’s primary contest. There has been talk of it costing £10 for non-party members to vote to choose the party’s 2016 candidate. As Mr Khan argues, adding his voice to those of declared candidate David Lammy MP and rumoured runner Dame Tessa Jowell MP, such a high charge is unfair and risks defeating the whole point of a primary, to encourage those outside politics to get involved. Last night the Tories chose their by-election candidate in Rochester and Strood, Kelly Tolhurst, by primary, but participation was disappointingly low. Labour must shake such apathy in the capital in its mayoral primary next year: don’t price Londoners out of taking part.

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