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David Cameron prepares for short EU referendum campaign David Cameron prepares for short EU referendum campaign
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron laid the ground for a short referendum campaign to keep Britain in a reformed EU as he declared that, “hand on heart”, he has achieved his Conservative manifesto commitments. David Cameron has laid the ground for a short referendum campaign to keep Britain in a reformed EU, declaring that, “hand on heart”, he has achieved his Conservative manifesto commitments.
The prime minister dismissed criticisms from Eurosceptic Tories, who say that proposals set out by the European Council president, Donald Tusk, fall well short of his original demands, to say that he would even recommend EU membership if the UK were outside the union. The prime minister dismissed criticisms from Eurosceptic Tories, who argued that proposals set out on Tuesday by the European council president, Donald Tusk, fell well short of his original demands, and said he would even recommend EU membership if the UK were already outside the union.
Declaring that Tusk’s proposals on the most contentious area of welfare reforms were a “very strong and powerful package”, the prime minister said: “Sometimes people say to me, if you weren’t in the EU would you opt to join the EU? And today I can give a very clear answer: if I could get these terms for British membership I sure would opt in to be a member of the EU because they are good terms and they are different to what other countries have.” Declaring that Tusk’s proposals on the most contentious area of welfare reforms were a “very strong and powerful package”, Cameron said: “Sometimes people say to me, if you weren’t in the EU would you opt to join the EU? And today I can give a very clear answer: if I could get these terms for British membership I sure would opt in to be a member of the EU because they are good terms and they are different to what other countries have.”
Earlier in the day, Tusk released papers that proposed that Britain would be able to request an “emergency brake” on in-work benefits for EU migrants for up to four years, subject to permission from other member states, under proposals from Brussels to address Cameron’s demands. Tusk’s papers proposed that Britain would be able to request an “emergency brake” on in-work benefits for EU migrants for up to four years, subject to permission from other member states.
The prime minister, who was speaking at the Wiltshire branch of Siemens, stressed that the deal is not yet finalised and will have to be approved by EU leaders at their next summit on 18-19 February. But he said that he would campaign for a yes vote in the referendum, which he hopes will be held before the 2017 deadline. The prime minister, speaking at the Wiltshire branch of Siemens, stressed that the deal was not yet finalised and would have to be approved by EU leaders at their next summit on 18-19 February. But he said he would campaign for a yes vote in the referendum, which he hopes will be held before the 2017 deadline.
If the UK gets a deal in February, an in/out referendum on Britain’s EU membership is expected to be held in June, with one possible date being 23rd. But UK officials would not be drawn on the timing on Tuesday morning following the release of the documents. If the UK gets a deal in February, an in/out referendum on EU membership is expected to be held in June, possibly on the 23rd. But UK officials would not be drawn on the timing after the proposals were released.
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, criticised Cameron for giving a speech in Chippenham and allowing briefings to the media rather than coming to the House of Commons to answer questions. Jeremy Corbyn criticised Cameron for giving a speech in Chippenham and allowing briefings to the media rather than going to the House of Commons to answer questions.
He said the prime minister was showing a lack of respect for MPs and appeared more concerned with internal Tory splits on the EU than explaining the deal to parliament. The Labour leader said the prime minister was showing a lack of respect for MPs and appeared more concerned with internal Tory splits on the EU than explaining the deal to parliament.
“He is trumpeting the sovereignty of national parliaments as part of the renegotiations, but doesn’t seem to respect the sovereignty of this parliament by coming here today to make the statement he should have done,” Corbyn said.Cameron will give a statement to MPs on Wednesday after prime minister’s questions to give them time to digest the document. His absence from the Commons for Corbyn’s urgent question meant he was not there to hear Eurosceptic Tory backbenchers line up to pour scorn on his deal. “He is trumpeting the sovereignty of national parliaments as part of the renegotiations, but doesn’t seem to respect the sovereignty of this parliament by coming here today to make the statement he should have done,” Corbyn said.Cameron will give a statement to MPs on Wednesday after prime minister’s questions. His absence from the Commons for Corbyn’s urgent question meant he was not there to hear Eurosceptic Tory backbenchers pour scorn on his deal.
Steve Baker, a Tory MP and leader of the Conservative leave campaign, told parliament that ministers were “polishing poo” by trying to present the EU offer as a victory, while his colleague Jacob Rees-Mogg said Downing Street appeared to be trying to “make bricks out of straw”. Steve Baker, the leader of the Conservative leave campaign, told parliament that ministers were “polishing poo” by trying to present the EU offer as a victory, while his colleague Jacob Rees-Mogg said Downing Street appeared to be trying to “make bricks out of straw”. Sir Bill Cash, a veteran anti-EU campaigner, questioned how the government could justify such a “pint-sized package” from the EU as fundamental change.
Sir Bill Cash, a veteran anti-EU campaigner and Tory MP, questioned how the government could justify such a “pint-sized package” from the EU as fundamental change.