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David Cameron: 'No doubt' that Britain gains from being in EU David Cameron: 'No doubt' that Britain gains from being in EU
(about 2 hours later)
David Cameron has given his strongest indication that he is determined to keep Britain in the EU as he said there is “no doubt” that the UK gains from its membership. David Cameron has given his strongest indication that he is determined to keep Britain in the EU as he said there is “no doubt” the UK gains from its membership.
As the two groups preparing to fight in the EU referendum prepare to launch their campaigns, the prime minister indicated that he has once again watered down his demands to try and secure a deal at a European summit in December. As the two opposing groups in the EU referendum prepare to launch their campaigns, the prime minister indicated he has once again watered down his demands to try and secure a deal at a European summit in December.
Cameron also suggested that cabinet ministers may be given the right to campaign on either side in the referendum in an echo of the decision made by Harold Wilson in the 1975 referendum on Britain’s membership of the EEC. Cameron also suggested cabinet ministers may be given the right to campaign on either side in the referendum in an echo of the decision made by Harold Wilson in the 1975 referendum on Britain’s membership of the EEC.
In an interview on the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1, the prime minister said he would rule nothing out about the negotiations. But he said he understood the frustration of some pro-Europeans, voiced by the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, in an Observer interview, that the wider arguments in favour of the EU are rarely aired as ministers focus on the UK renegotiations. In an interview on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC1, the prime minister said he would rule nothing out about the negotiations. But he said he understood the frustration of some pro-Europeans, voiced by the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, in an Observer interview, that the wider arguments in favour of the EU are rarely aired as ministers focus on the UK renegotiations.
The prime minister said: “I understand that frustration. It is partly because I am involved in a negotiation. I am trying to get for Britain the things that we need. Obviously once I’ve got them then I will turn around and make the case for staying in a reformed Europe. But right now I am fighting to get these things and I can’t guarantee I will get them.”The prime minister said: “I understand that frustration. It is partly because I am involved in a negotiation. I am trying to get for Britain the things that we need. Obviously once I’ve got them then I will turn around and make the case for staying in a reformed Europe. But right now I am fighting to get these things and I can’t guarantee I will get them.”
Cameron outlined his reform plans but cast them in more general language. He spoke of the need to ensure that EU workers should only be able to claim UK benefits, such as tax credits, after paying into the British system. But he did not mention his proposal to prevent EU migrants from claiming in-work benefits for their first four years in Britain.Cameron outlined his reform plans but cast them in more general language. He spoke of the need to ensure that EU workers should only be able to claim UK benefits, such as tax credits, after paying into the British system. But he did not mention his proposal to prevent EU migrants from claiming in-work benefits for their first four years in Britain.
The prime minister challenged the call by Nigel Lawson, the former chancellor who is to take a leading role in the campaign to leave the EU, for national parliaments to be given the right to veto EU laws.The prime minister challenged the call by Nigel Lawson, the former chancellor who is to take a leading role in the campaign to leave the EU, for national parliaments to be given the right to veto EU laws.
He said: “I would amend those slightly and say where parliaments in Europe get together and want to block a proposal, yes that should be possible. That is one of the things that we are aiming for. That is important. In terms of borders, being able to keep the border controls we have, being able to make sure that our welfare system – you have to work in it and pay into it before you get out of it. I think these are important. The issue of child benefit – that you shouldn’t be able to come and work here, leave your children in another European country and get British levels of child benefit. These are the things I am going to fix.”He said: “I would amend those slightly and say where parliaments in Europe get together and want to block a proposal, yes that should be possible. That is one of the things that we are aiming for. That is important. In terms of borders, being able to keep the border controls we have, being able to make sure that our welfare system – you have to work in it and pay into it before you get out of it. I think these are important. The issue of child benefit – that you shouldn’t be able to come and work here, leave your children in another European country and get British levels of child benefit. These are the things I am going to fix.”
In some of his most pro-European comments, the prime minister spoke of the wider benefits of EU membership as he said he would never be able to satisfy arch-Eurosceptics, such as the former environment secretary Owen Paterson, who want to leave the EU.In some of his most pro-European comments, the prime minister spoke of the wider benefits of EU membership as he said he would never be able to satisfy arch-Eurosceptics, such as the former environment secretary Owen Paterson, who want to leave the EU.
Cameron said: “There are things we get out of Europe, no doubt about it. We are a trading nation. We don’t just want access to Europe’s markets. We need a say over the rules. That is what we get sitting round that table.”Cameron said: “There are things we get out of Europe, no doubt about it. We are a trading nation. We don’t just want access to Europe’s markets. We need a say over the rules. That is what we get sitting round that table.”
The prime minister said members of his government are bound by collective responsibility to accept his plan to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s EU membership – and to believe they can succeed – and then to hold a referendum on the outcome. But he suggested that he could adopt a more flexible process when he appeared to say that there could be different circumstances “at the end”. He was then interrupted at this point and failed to develop the point.The prime minister said members of his government are bound by collective responsibility to accept his plan to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s EU membership – and to believe they can succeed – and then to hold a referendum on the outcome. But he suggested that he could adopt a more flexible process when he appeared to say that there could be different circumstances “at the end”. He was then interrupted at this point and failed to develop the point.
Lord Heseltine, the former deputy prime minister, said he could not see a situation where Cameron would ever lead the campaign to leave the EU. Challenged on whether this undermined the prime minister’s renegotiation strategy, he told BBC 5 Live: “You asked my opinion, not the prime minister’s opinion.”Lord Heseltine, the former deputy prime minister, said he could not see a situation where Cameron would ever lead the campaign to leave the EU. Challenged on whether this undermined the prime minister’s renegotiation strategy, he told BBC 5 Live: “You asked my opinion, not the prime minister’s opinion.”