About: Tom Spencer

Europe and the UK must avoid a ‘Neverendum’

Statistics and, more importantly, history itself teaches us that for questions over the UK’s EU membership to be put to bed, the winning camp must win by around 20%. The ‘remain’ campaign must emphasise the issue of security, argues Tom Spencer.

Europe, after the Conservative Party

Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Tony Blair, whatever the other distractions of their premierships, were keen followers of the European debate. Only Gordon Brown, in the terminal stages of his decay, can be accused of such a lack of interest in matters European. David Cameron is in a league of his own, writes Tom Spencer.

Britain, Europe and referendums

Europe is the key to the future of the coalition government in Britain. Unless the current tendency to pander to the eurosceptic right is abandoned, the Liberal Democrats will be inevitably driven into a future coalition with a Labour Party that has declined to commit political suicide by heading too far to the left, writes Tom Spencer.

Reflections on the Arab revolutions

Tom Spencer analyses in depth the background and context of the Arab revolutions, the European Union's "flabby diplomacy" and the repercussions these developments will have on the EU's political leaders, arguing that these could even prematurely end Catherine Ashton's term as the bloc's foreign affairs chief.

Of power, proximity and public affairs

Ex-diplomats with an understanding of how the EU works are likely to be a useful part of the scene for the foreseeable future. They after all have training in history, geography and power – the very essence of both public affairs and foreign policy, writes Tom Spencer, executive director of the European Centre for Public Affairs (ECPA), in an April commentary. 

Of Poppies & the Public Affairs of Remembrance

Poppies can teach us a lot about the public affairs of the 21st century, writes Tom Spencer, executive director of the European Centre for Public Affairs (ECPA), in a November briefing.

Of Arrogance, Anger and Ambition

In a commentary written on 3 November, Tom Spencer, executive director of the European Centre for Public Affairs, discusses Britain's coalition government, recent political developments in the EU and the United States, and the public affairs of climate change.

On the Primacy of Process: Brussels and Copenhagen

"It is process rather than personalities which holds the key to understanding the European Union as it totters into a new world after the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon," writes Tom Spencer, executive director of the European Centre for Public Affairs (ECPA), in a Christmas briefing paper, predicting that "it will be some months yet before we can say with any certainty how the Union will function in its new Treaty garb".

Business needs public affairs more than ever in downturn

In the current economic downturn, business needs public affairs "more than ever", argues Tom Spencer, executive director of the European Centre for Public Affairs.

Improvements required in the EU public affairs process

Public affairs, or the "interaction of society with its political institutions," is essential to democracy, particularly a 'new' democracy on a continental scale such as the EU, writes Tom Spencer, executive director of the European Centre for Public Affairs (ECPA), in an article for EU Reporter.

The Public Affairs of Sunshine

For the first time since the French and Dutch rejection of the Constitution, Europhiles can feel sunlight on their faces, says Tom Spencer, executive director of The European Centre for Public Affairs (EPCA).