David Cameron to warn voters not to fall for ‘extremist’ anti-EU message

London: David Cameron warned voters not to fall for the “extremist” message of those who want to leave the European Union like Ukip and many within his own party as he launched the Conservative manifesto for next month’s European elections on Thursday afternoon.

The prime minister set out his party’s vision for Britain in Europe as he tries to turn political attention away from the resignation of the cabinet minister Maria Miller over her expenses.

In the wake of an anti-politics backlash that is likely to play into the hands of Nigel Farage, Cameron will present the Conservatives under his leadership as a voice of moderation between two “extremist camps” the fiercely pro- and anti-Europeans.

Despite some members of Ukip being under scrutiny over their own use of European expenses, Farage has already seized advantage of Miller’s departure by making a speech in her Basingstoke constituency.

On Wednesday night, the Ukip leader said: “The real issue with the Maria Miller case I mean, partly it’s the fact the taxpayer has helped her make a profit of £1 million [Dh6.1 million] but the real issue is that the prime minister doesn’t seem to understand that people think something’s wrong. He’s supported her all the way through, and now he’s saying he’ll have her back in the cabinet as soon as he can.”

Cameron has acknowledged that more must be done to restore public trust in the oversight of politicians, after a committee of MPs watered down a ruling against Miller from an independent commissioner including a reduction in her recommended repayment from £45,000 to £5,800.

Backbenchers expressed relief that Miller had resigned at a meeting of the powerful 1922 committee of MPs with Cameron on Wednesday night.

He told them the party now needed to concentrate on four big fights the local and European elections, the Scottish referendum and the general election.

Without specifically mentioning Ukip, the prime minister is expected to argue that his party is focused on Britain’s national interest rather than political dogma.

During his speech, he will claim that his pledge of EU reform followed by an in/out referendum represents the middle ground.

“Looking at the other parties, there are effectively two extremist camps,” he will say.

“One says: ‘We love the European Union.’ The other says: ‘We hate the European Union.’

“One says: ‘We want things to stay the same.’ The other says: ‘Let’s just walk away from the EU.’

“But in all this there are three words they are missing, three words that sum up everything we are about in Europe.

“Britain’s. National. Interest. British jobs. British opportunities. British livelihoods.

“And our argument is you don’t maximise those interests by saying everything’s fine in Europe. You don’t maximise those interests by walking away from Europe. You get the best for Britain by rolling up your sleeves and fighting for real change in Europe.”

A ComRes poll for ITV News suggested that Cameron’s public standing may have been hurt by his handling of the Miller affair.

Some 63 per cent thought he had dealt with the problem badly, compared to just 8 per cent who said he had done well.

The figures were little better among Tory voters, with 50 per cent critical and 15 per cent believing he had performed adequately.

The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, accused the prime minister of a “terrible error of judgment” in failing to sack Miller immediately after she was found to have overclaimed expenses.