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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Lord Lawson to lead UK EU exit group | Lord Lawson to lead UK EU exit group |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Former Chancellor Lord Lawson is to lead a Conservative group pushing for a referendum vote to leave the EU. | Former Chancellor Lord Lawson is to lead a Conservative group pushing for a referendum vote to leave the EU. |
| The peer, who predicted the government would only secure "wafer thin" reforms in its renegotiations, will be president of Conservatives for Britain. | The peer, who predicted the government would only secure "wafer thin" reforms in its renegotiations, will be president of Conservatives for Britain. |
| He said he would not share a platform with the rival Out campaign, UKIP-backed Leave.EU but said all were welcome to "rally" to his group. | He said he would not share a platform with the rival Out campaign, UKIP-backed Leave.EU but said all were welcome to "rally" to his group. |
| Lord Lawson, chancellor from 1983 to 1989, set out his pitch in The Times. | Lord Lawson, chancellor from 1983 to 1989, set out his pitch in The Times. |
| He said he had accepted the position as president of Conservatives for Britain because he believed it was "far more likely" the government would be unable to secure the reforms it hoped for. | He said he had accepted the position as president of Conservatives for Britain because he believed it was "far more likely" the government would be unable to secure the reforms it hoped for. |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who has backed a separate 'Brexit' group, welcomed Lord Lawson's appointment but said the campaign had to "go beyond Westminster". | |
| In June Prime Minister David Cameron launched his bid to renegotiate the UK's membership of the EU, saying British voters would not accept a "rigid" EU. | In June Prime Minister David Cameron launched his bid to renegotiate the UK's membership of the EU, saying British voters would not accept a "rigid" EU. |
| 'Over-optimistic' | 'Over-optimistic' |
| Among the demands the government has called for are more power for national parliaments over EU decisions, restricting the rights of EU migrants to claim some benefits in the UK and an opt out from the ambition of ever-closer union. | Among the demands the government has called for are more power for national parliaments over EU decisions, restricting the rights of EU migrants to claim some benefits in the UK and an opt out from the ambition of ever-closer union. |
| Conservatives for Britain is led in the House of Commons by MP Steve Baker, and includes former ministers Owen Paterson and John Redwood. | Conservatives for Britain is led in the House of Commons by MP Steve Baker, and includes former ministers Owen Paterson and John Redwood. |
| In his Times piece, Lord Lawson describes suggestions his group is "jumping the gun" by not waiting to see what reforms Mr Cameron achieves as an "over-optimistic calculation of the prime minister's chance of success". | In his Times piece, Lord Lawson describes suggestions his group is "jumping the gun" by not waiting to see what reforms Mr Cameron achieves as an "over-optimistic calculation of the prime minister's chance of success". |
| The peer also says if the argument for the UK's exit of the EU is not made now, then "less moderate, xenophobic voices" will dominate the debate and the campaign will fail. | The peer also says if the argument for the UK's exit of the EU is not made now, then "less moderate, xenophobic voices" will dominate the debate and the campaign will fail. |
| Lord Lawson writes: "A number of my colleagues in the Conservative party are waiting to see what the prime minister negotiates before deciding which way they will vote or whether they will campaign for 'in' or 'out'. | Lord Lawson writes: "A number of my colleagues in the Conservative party are waiting to see what the prime minister negotiates before deciding which way they will vote or whether they will campaign for 'in' or 'out'. |
| "We cannot afford to wait that long. If we leave the playing field vacant, less moderate, xenophobic voices will dominate the debate and we will fail as soon as the government, the major political parties, the CBI and trade unions declare they are backing the 'in' campaign". | "We cannot afford to wait that long. If we leave the playing field vacant, less moderate, xenophobic voices will dominate the debate and we will fail as soon as the government, the major political parties, the CBI and trade unions declare they are backing the 'in' campaign". |
| Nigel Lawson: Profile | Nigel Lawson: Profile |
| A self-proclaimed Tory radical and long serving chancellor in the 1980s, Nigel Lawson was a key ally of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. | A self-proclaimed Tory radical and long serving chancellor in the 1980s, Nigel Lawson was a key ally of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. |
| After studying at Oxford University, he embarked on a career in journalism. He joined the Financial Times in 1956 and five years later became City Editor of the new Sunday Telegraph, then editor of The Spectator. | After studying at Oxford University, he embarked on a career in journalism. He joined the Financial Times in 1956 and five years later became City Editor of the new Sunday Telegraph, then editor of The Spectator. |
| But Nigel Lawson had political ambitions, and after narrowly failing to win election to parliament in 1970 he entered the Commons in 1974 as MP for Blaby in Leicestershire. When Margaret Thatcher won the Conservative leadership in 1975, he became a key architect of Tory economic policy and after the 1979 election was appointed to the Treasury. | But Nigel Lawson had political ambitions, and after narrowly failing to win election to parliament in 1970 he entered the Commons in 1974 as MP for Blaby in Leicestershire. When Margaret Thatcher won the Conservative leadership in 1975, he became a key architect of Tory economic policy and after the 1979 election was appointed to the Treasury. |
| It was as chancellor that the then Mr Lawson made his greatest impact with dramatic cuts in income tax rates, a programme of privatisation of several key industries and extensive de-regulation. However, he opposed the poll tax and in 1989 resigned over a split in views with Mrs Thatcher's special adviser, Alan Walters. | It was as chancellor that the then Mr Lawson made his greatest impact with dramatic cuts in income tax rates, a programme of privatisation of several key industries and extensive de-regulation. However, he opposed the poll tax and in 1989 resigned over a split in views with Mrs Thatcher's special adviser, Alan Walters. |
| Now 83 years old, Lord Lawson sits in the House of Lords. He is the father of food writer and celebrity chef Nigella Lawson and journalist Dominic Lawson. | Now 83 years old, Lord Lawson sits in the House of Lords. He is the father of food writer and celebrity chef Nigella Lawson and journalist Dominic Lawson. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said there was "no economic benefit" to being in the EU. The union could not be changed without treaty change, which "isn't going to be forthcoming" as it requires unanimous agreement of other members states, he said. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said there was "no economic benefit" to being in the EU. The union could not be changed without treaty change, which "isn't going to be forthcoming" as it requires unanimous agreement of other members states, he said. |
| David Cameron has promised the referendum by the end of 2017, by which time he hopes to have reformed the UK's relationship with the EU. | David Cameron has promised the referendum by the end of 2017, by which time he hopes to have reformed the UK's relationship with the EU. |
| The official campaigns to remain and to leave, which will be designated by the Electoral Commission, will benefit from extra resources. | The official campaigns to remain and to leave, which will be designated by the Electoral Commission, will benefit from extra resources. |
| The commission says it will choose the campaign which represents "to the greatest extent those campaigning for that outcome". | The commission says it will choose the campaign which represents "to the greatest extent those campaigning for that outcome". |
| Earlier this month, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said his party would work "hand in hand" with a new "umbrella group" of anti-EU campaigners called Leave.EU and founded by former UKIP donor Arron Banks. | Earlier this month, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said his party would work "hand in hand" with a new "umbrella group" of anti-EU campaigners called Leave.EU and founded by former UKIP donor Arron Banks. |
| Asked whether he would share a platform with this organisation, Lord Lawson told Today: "No." | Asked whether he would share a platform with this organisation, Lord Lawson told Today: "No." |
| "We welcome others to come and support us, we are not going to support anybody else but we are open to all sorts of others from all parties and none to come and rally to the Conservatives for Britain group." | "We welcome others to come and support us, we are not going to support anybody else but we are open to all sorts of others from all parties and none to come and rally to the Conservatives for Britain group." |
| UKIP's only MP, Douglas Carswell, has said his party must be willing to "work with anyone" and has suggested he may back Business for Britain, which has been in discussions with Conservatives for Britain about forming a joint campaign. | UKIP's only MP, Douglas Carswell, has said his party must be willing to "work with anyone" and has suggested he may back Business for Britain, which has been in discussions with Conservatives for Britain about forming a joint campaign. |
| The Clacton MP had an angry exchange of views on the matter with Mr Banks at UKIP's conference. | The Clacton MP had an angry exchange of views on the matter with Mr Banks at UKIP's conference. |
| Mr Cameron, Chancellor George Osborne and Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond have all been engaged in diplomatic talks on the UK's relationship with the EU. | Mr Cameron, Chancellor George Osborne and Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond have all been engaged in diplomatic talks on the UK's relationship with the EU. |
| The European Council's Donald Tusk said there was a will to help the UK, but he has previously said that values such as the freedom of movement to live and work within the UK "were not for sale". | The European Council's Donald Tusk said there was a will to help the UK, but he has previously said that values such as the freedom of movement to live and work within the UK "were not for sale". |