Standing alone as Europe burns

"In Brussels, Britain has sounded neo-Thatcherite as though nothing has changed from the 1980s." says European Commissioner Peter Mandelson. Is this an insult to Margaret Thatcher or a compliment to Tony Blair!?!. It sounds like the latter. "Both tone and substance now need to change if the British Government is to command attention and win the backing it seeks on the continent." Why do we need to win European backing when they want more of our money!?! Britain should not be afraid to stand alone in Europe, it wouldn't be the the first time.