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EU referendum: Cabinet poised to go to war over European Union membership EU referendum: Cabinet poised to go to war over European Union membership
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At least half a dozen members of the Cabinet believe David Cameron won’t get a good enough deal from other European leaders to support staying in the EU, a senior Conservative Eurosceptic has claimed.At least half a dozen members of the Cabinet believe David Cameron won’t get a good enough deal from other European leaders to support staying in the EU, a senior Conservative Eurosceptic has claimed.
As Tory infighting over Europe intensified after last week’s summit in Brussels, John Redwood said he “knew” of six cabinet ministers who would consider resigning from the Government if they were made to campaign in favour of remaining in the EU. He added that there were “many more” junior ministers who held the same view.As Tory infighting over Europe intensified after last week’s summit in Brussels, John Redwood said he “knew” of six cabinet ministers who would consider resigning from the Government if they were made to campaign in favour of remaining in the EU. He added that there were “many more” junior ministers who held the same view.
The Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, the Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers and Leader of the Commons Chris Grayling are all known for their Eurosceptic views. But others including the Justice Secretary Michael Gove and the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond are also known to have strong reservations about Britain’s continued membership.The Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, the Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers and Leader of the Commons Chris Grayling are all known for their Eurosceptic views. But others including the Justice Secretary Michael Gove and the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond are also known to have strong reservations about Britain’s continued membership.
Mr Redwood, a Eurosceptic who challenged Sir John Major for the leadership of the Tories over the issue, also suggested that Mr Cameron would be forced to resign if he campaigned for the In campaign but lost the referendum.Mr Redwood, a Eurosceptic who challenged Sir John Major for the leadership of the Tories over the issue, also suggested that Mr Cameron would be forced to resign if he campaigned for the In campaign but lost the referendum.
In campaigners fear that dislike of the Government – particularly on the left – could swell the ranks of the Out campaign and its supporters would be further motivated if they believed Mr Cameron would be forced out by a vote to quit the EU.In campaigners fear that dislike of the Government – particularly on the left – could swell the ranks of the Out campaign and its supporters would be further motivated if they believed Mr Cameron would be forced out by a vote to quit the EU.
Speaking to the BBC Mr Redwood said there was a feeling among Conservative MPs that the deal Mr Cameron hopes to strike in February will not be enough to persuade them to back him.Speaking to the BBC Mr Redwood said there was a feeling among Conservative MPs that the deal Mr Cameron hopes to strike in February will not be enough to persuade them to back him.
“I know that there are half a dozen cabinet members that are pretty strongly of the view that this deal won’t be good enough and it would be better to leave, and there would be many more junior ministers of that view,” he said.“I know that there are half a dozen cabinet members that are pretty strongly of the view that this deal won’t be good enough and it would be better to leave, and there would be many more junior ministers of that view,” he said.
A man is covered with a multi-coloured banner with the message, "Climate" as environmentalists attend a demonstration near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) that meets in Le Bourget, December 12, 2015
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French President Francois Hollande (C) and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (R) applaud after a statement at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning.
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US Secretary of State John Kerry (C) speaks with China's Special Representative on Climate Change Xie Zhenhua (R) and officials at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning.
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Delegates and members of NGO's read and work on copies of 'The adoption of the Paris agreement' is pictured after the announcement of the final draft by French Foreign Affairs minister Laurent Fabius at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning
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UN climate chief Christiana Figueres (C) speaks with French President Francois Hollande (L), United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (2ndL) and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (R) after a statement at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning
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A Swiss Dominican priest poses with activists dressed as polar bears as activists gather for a demonstration to form a giant red line at the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris.
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Activists hold up a giant banner reading 'Climate justice' by association 'ourpowercampaign' during a demonstration near the Arc de Triomphe at the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris.
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Representatives of indigenous peoples demonstrate in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015.
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Environmentalists demonstrate near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015.
Reuters
Environmentalists demonstrate near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015.
Reuters
Activists form a giant red line during a demonstration on the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris
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The slogan "No Plan B" is projected on the Eiffel Tower as part of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) in Paris, France, December 11, 2015.
Reuters
“Who knows how many of them will actually resign when it comes to it but I think you would need to because it’s so fundamental. It’s: do we take control back over our borders, do we take control back over our own finances, do we take control back over our criminal justice or don’t we? What kind of a country do you want to belong to? Do you want Britain to be at the top table in its own right or do you want to it to be just part of a European grouping?“Who knows how many of them will actually resign when it comes to it but I think you would need to because it’s so fundamental. It’s: do we take control back over our borders, do we take control back over our own finances, do we take control back over our criminal justice or don’t we? What kind of a country do you want to belong to? Do you want Britain to be at the top table in its own right or do you want to it to be just part of a European grouping?
Mr Redwood added that he did not think Mr Cameron would be able to stay on as leader in the event of a “leave” vote. “I don’t think Mr Cameron would want to [continue as leader], because you would need someone who believes in leaving, who could go to France and Germany, who could sort it out in an amicable but firm way,” he said.Mr Redwood added that he did not think Mr Cameron would be able to stay on as leader in the event of a “leave” vote. “I don’t think Mr Cameron would want to [continue as leader], because you would need someone who believes in leaving, who could go to France and Germany, who could sort it out in an amicable but firm way,” he said.
The chair of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, Graham Brady, told the Today programme it was right that ministers did not speak out about leaving the EU until David Cameron has finished negotiating reforms to the UK’s status within the bloc.The chair of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, Graham Brady, told the Today programme it was right that ministers did not speak out about leaving the EU until David Cameron has finished negotiating reforms to the UK’s status within the bloc.
“I think that collective responsibility should hold until it’s clear what the deal is,” he said.“I think that collective responsibility should hold until it’s clear what the deal is,” he said.
David Cameron
Despite claiming he would campaign for Britain to leave the EU if he doesn’t get the “right” deal from his renegotiations, it would be a major shock if he didn’t lead the campaign in favour of Britain staying in.
George Osborne
The Chancellor’s political fortunes are inextricably tied to those of Cameron and he knows that a vote to stay will strengthen his chances of succeeding his friend as Prime Minister. 
Michael Gove
Mr Gove is a Eurosceptic but he is also a party loyalist. He will bite his tongue and follow Mr Cameron in campaigning for Britain to stay in the EU.
Boris Johnson
Has had his own “will he, won’t he” saga, but is likely to conclude that breaking ranks to join the campaign to leave would damage his own chances of succeeding Cameron.
Iain Duncan Smith
A long-standing Eurosceptic who knows he is unlikely to get another Cabinet job after this one. He is known to want to campaign for Britain to leave the EU and could very well decide to quit the Cabinet to do so.
Chris Grayling
Another politician who is on his way down the ministerial ladder. A Cabinet colleague told The Independent that Grayling is likely to lose his job as Leader of the Commons at the next reshuffle anyway and might choose to quit over an issue of conscience before he is pushed. 
Theresa Villiers
Normally a loyalist, but the Northern Ireland Secretary is understood to have raised her concerns about Europe with the Prime Minister. If ministers are given freedom to campaign to leave, Villiers almost certainly will.