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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Ministers 'free to campaign for both sides on EU vote' | Ministers 'free to campaign for both sides on EU vote' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron is to allow ministers to campaign for either side in the referendum once a deal is reached on the UK's relationship with the EU. | David Cameron is to allow ministers to campaign for either side in the referendum once a deal is reached on the UK's relationship with the EU. |
| BBC 5 Live chief political correspondent John Pienaar said the PM would announce the move later. | BBC 5 Live chief political correspondent John Pienaar said the PM would announce the move later. |
| The prime minister is currently renegotiating the UK's EU membership before putting it to a public vote. | The prime minister is currently renegotiating the UK's EU membership before putting it to a public vote. |
| The referendum - to be held before the end of 2017 - will ask whether the UK should stay in the EU. | The referendum - to be held before the end of 2017 - will ask whether the UK should stay in the EU. |
| A number of cabinet ministers are thought to favour an out vote, with Mr Cameron expected to campaign for Britain to remain in the EU, although he has said he rules nothing out if he does not get what he wants from his renegotiations. | A number of cabinet ministers are thought to favour an out vote, with Mr Cameron expected to campaign for Britain to remain in the EU, although he has said he rules nothing out if he does not get what he wants from his renegotiations. |
| If the PM had decided to insist on collective cabinet responsibility, he would have been forced to sack ministers who disagreed with him. | If the PM had decided to insist on collective cabinet responsibility, he would have been forced to sack ministers who disagreed with him. |
| 'Wise decision' | 'Wise decision' |
| Former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major had called for collective responsibility for the cabinet during the EU referendum campaign. | Former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major had called for collective responsibility for the cabinet during the EU referendum campaign. |
| Former deputy PM Lord Heseltine - who last month warned of a Tory "civil war" if ministers were allowed to openly defy the prime minister and suggested Mr Cameron would be seen as a global "laughing stock" if he allowed it - declined to comment on the PM's decision. | Former deputy PM Lord Heseltine - who last month warned of a Tory "civil war" if ministers were allowed to openly defy the prime minister and suggested Mr Cameron would be seen as a global "laughing stock" if he allowed it - declined to comment on the PM's decision. |
| But the move was welcomed by those campaigning to get Britain out of the EU. | But the move was welcomed by those campaigning to get Britain out of the EU. |
| Matthew Elliott, chief executive of Vote Leave, said: "The referendum could be as little as 170 days away, so ministers should be allowed to campaign openly as soon as the renegotiation is complete - and certainly no later than the end of the European Council in February. | Matthew Elliott, chief executive of Vote Leave, said: "The referendum could be as little as 170 days away, so ministers should be allowed to campaign openly as soon as the renegotiation is complete - and certainly no later than the end of the European Council in February. |
| "The British people deserve to hear where their elected representatives stand on this vitally important issue. We've had lots of useful meetings with government ministers and look forward to working with them much more closely now." | "The British people deserve to hear where their elected representatives stand on this vitally important issue. We've had lots of useful meetings with government ministers and look forward to working with them much more closely now." |
| Brian Monteith, of Leave.EU, said: "We welcome the news that ministers will be allowed to campaign with their conscience in the referendum, however, this is not about them. | Brian Monteith, of Leave.EU, said: "We welcome the news that ministers will be allowed to campaign with their conscience in the referendum, however, this is not about them. |
| "It will be ordinary people such as nurses, taxi drivers and small business owners that need to have their voices heard in this debate." | "It will be ordinary people such as nurses, taxi drivers and small business owners that need to have their voices heard in this debate." |
| Tory MP Steve Baker, of the Conservatives For Britain group, said: "The prime minister has made a wise decision which is undoubtedly in the best interests of the country, the EU debate and the Conservative Party. I am delighted." | Tory MP Steve Baker, of the Conservatives For Britain group, said: "The prime minister has made a wise decision which is undoubtedly in the best interests of the country, the EU debate and the Conservative Party. I am delighted." |
| 'Glutinous harmony' | 'Glutinous harmony' |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the PM's decision was a short term solution to "hold together" the Conservative Party but as the referendum approached cabinet differences could become "irreconcilable." | UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the PM's decision was a short term solution to "hold together" the Conservative Party but as the referendum approached cabinet differences could become "irreconcilable." |
| He said David Cameron would be "surprised" at the number of Conservatives who will campaign with UKIP to leave the EU. | He said David Cameron would be "surprised" at the number of Conservatives who will campaign with UKIP to leave the EU. |
| Will Straw, Executive Director of Britain Stronger In Europe, said: "The choice facing Britain in the upcoming referendum is the biggest in a generation. | |
| "We already enjoy the support of politicians from across the political divide, including many Conservatives. We are confident that after the prime minister's successful renegotiation, the majority of Conservative ministers will continue to make the case that the benefits of being inside Europe... clearly outweigh the costs." | |
| Alan Johnson, who chairs the Labour In For Britain campaign, said: "While the Tories are divided on Europe, Labour is clear that Britain's national interest is best served by campaigning for Britain to stay in the EU." | |
| Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, who is campaigning for Britain to stay in the EU, accused Mr Cameron of "putting his own internal party strife above what's best for Britain". | Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, who is campaigning for Britain to stay in the EU, accused Mr Cameron of "putting his own internal party strife above what's best for Britain". |
| "The government should take a collective position on this issue, and if ministers disagree with the prime minister they should resign." | "The government should take a collective position on this issue, and if ministers disagree with the prime minister they should resign." |
| Speaking before news of Mr Cameron's decision emerged, London Mayor Boris Johnson told LBC radio: "I think we've got to be prepared to walk away, but at the moment I am backing the prime minister to get a great deal for this country and for Europe." | Speaking before news of Mr Cameron's decision emerged, London Mayor Boris Johnson told LBC radio: "I think we've got to be prepared to walk away, but at the moment I am backing the prime minister to get a great deal for this country and for Europe." |
| He rejected the idea that Mr Cameron would have to stand down as prime minister if he lost the referendum and denied Tory MPs were at war over Europe. | He rejected the idea that Mr Cameron would have to stand down as prime minister if he lost the referendum and denied Tory MPs were at war over Europe. |
| "We're not. Glutinous harmony prevails. We are backing David Cameron. I think he's doing a brilliant job," he added. | "We're not. Glutinous harmony prevails. We are backing David Cameron. I think he's doing a brilliant job," he added. |
| Mr Cameron is set to address MPs at 15:30 GMT in a statement on December's EU summit, at which the UK's renegotiation demands were discussed. | Mr Cameron is set to address MPs at 15:30 GMT in a statement on December's EU summit, at which the UK's renegotiation demands were discussed. |
| Read more about the UK's EU referendum: | Read more about the UK's EU referendum: |
| Q&A: What Britain wants from Europe | Q&A: What Britain wants from Europe |
| Guide to the UK's planned in-out EU referendum | Guide to the UK's planned in-out EU referendum |
| BBC News EU referendum special report | BBC News EU referendum special report |