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Cameron names referendum date as Gove leans towards Brexit – live Cameron names referendum date as Gove declares for Brexit – live
(35 minutes later)
1.30pm GMT
13:30
Does Michael Gove really add the intellectual heft to the ‘Leave’ side? John McTernan, a former adviser to the Blair government, is among those who think so:
A very fine statement from a formidable politician. At last a real argument that demands a compelling answer. https://t.co/We0puzUP77
You can read Michael Gove’s statement in full here by the way
1.21pm GMT
13:21
Chris Grayling, the Leader of the House of Commons, has also been outlining his rationale for backing a vote to leave the EU.
Grayling tells me the PM has only got 'concessions' not fundamental change to our relationship with the EU
Grayling tells me the PM has only got 'concessions' not fundamental change to our relationship with the EU
1.11pm GMT
13:11
Glaringly at odds with the insistence of David Cameron (and notably, Theresa May) that Britain’s security considerations are better served by remaining in the EU, Gove says in his 1,574-word statement:
Far from providing security in an uncertain world, the EU’s policies have become a source of instability and insecurity.
Razor wire once more criss-crosses the continent, historic tensions between nations such as Greece and Germany have resurfaced in ugly ways and the EU is proving incapable of dealing with the current crises in Libya and Syria.
He goes on to say that even though the UK is outside of the euro, it is still subject to an “unelected EU Commission which is generating new laws every day and an unaccountable European Court in Luxembourg which is extending its reach every week”.
After going on to insist that the UK can “take back billions” it gives to the EU and forge new trade deals and partnerships with nations across the globe, he concludes the lengthy statement by saying:
This chance may never come again in our lifetimes, which is why I will be true to my principles and take the opportunity this referendum provides to leave an EU mired in the past and embrace a better future.
Updated
at 1.15pm GMT
1.06pm GMT
13:06
Gove statement on why he is backing Vote Leave
The Justice Secretary, Michael Gove, has released a statement explaining why he will be backing a vote for the UK to leave the EU.
His starting point is simple, he says:
I believe that the decisions which govern all our lives, the laws we must all obey and the taxes we must all pay should be decided by people we choose and who we can throw out if we want change.
If power is to be used wisely, if we are to avoid corruption and complacency in high office, then the public must have the right to change laws and Governments at election time.
But our membership of the European Union prevents us being able to change huge swathes of law and stops us being able to choose who makes critical decisions which affect all our lives. Laws which govern citizens in this country are decided by politicians from other nations who we never elected and can’t throw out.
1.02pm GMT
13:02
The Gang of Six? Let the bidding begin for the title of the Cabinet members on the ‘Leave side’.
Cabinet gang of 6. @vote_leave: The safe option is to #VoteLeave pic.twitter.com/JRrvVVCCdx”
Or how about the “The Secessionist Six” ? (Copyright Tim Montgomergie)
12.58pm GMT12.58pm GMT
12:5812:58
That’s a total of six cabinet members at the Vote Leave headquarters : Michael Gove, Priti Patel, John Whittingdale, Chris Grayling, Iain Duncan Smith and Theresa Villiers.That’s a total of six cabinet members at the Vote Leave headquarters : Michael Gove, Priti Patel, John Whittingdale, Chris Grayling, Iain Duncan Smith and Theresa Villiers.
It’s a pretty extraordinary photo, vividly illustrating that there will be a split in the cabinet until June 23.It’s a pretty extraordinary photo, vividly illustrating that there will be a split in the cabinet until June 23.
It’s an image that’s not without its problems however, noted by the New Statesman’s Stephen Bush :It’s an image that’s not without its problems however, noted by the New Statesman’s Stephen Bush :
Surprising lack of thought in this photo. Glasses outnumber minorities and women. Grayling doing an O face. pic.twitter.com/QPbJkIN9IjSurprising lack of thought in this photo. Glasses outnumber minorities and women. Grayling doing an O face. pic.twitter.com/QPbJkIN9Ij
12.53pm GMT12.53pm GMT
12:5312:53
Gove and other ministers arrive at Vote Leave HQGove and other ministers arrive at Vote Leave HQ
Michael Gove has arrived, with three other cabinet ministers, at the headquarters of the Vote Leave campaign, which tweets this picture:Michael Gove has arrived, with three other cabinet ministers, at the headquarters of the Vote Leave campaign, which tweets this picture:
#voteleavetakecontrol pic.twitter.com/MgPp1bQDF0#voteleavetakecontrol pic.twitter.com/MgPp1bQDF0
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.53pm GMTat 12.53pm GMT
12.51pm GMT12.51pm GMT
12:5112:51
International development secretary, Justine Greening, will campaign for the UK to stay in the EU (as expected), “on the basis of safeguarding British jobs and influence.”International development secretary, Justine Greening, will campaign for the UK to stay in the EU (as expected), “on the basis of safeguarding British jobs and influence.”
Greening will campaign for IN. #BREXIT pic.twitter.com/6oijVoFB8RGreening will campaign for IN. #BREXIT pic.twitter.com/6oijVoFB8R
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.52pm GMTat 12.52pm GMT
12.48pm GMT12.48pm GMT
12:4812:48
Another minister for the ‘Vote Leave’ campaign: John Whittingdale, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and SportAnother minister for the ‘Vote Leave’ campaign: John Whittingdale, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
So John Whittingdale is, as expected, for @Vote_Leave despite rumours otherwise https://t.co/1jmUVIE55bSo John Whittingdale is, as expected, for @Vote_Leave despite rumours otherwise https://t.co/1jmUVIE55b
12.44pm GMT12.44pm GMT
12:4412:44
Andrea Leadsom, Minister of State for Energy at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, confirmed she will vote to leave the EU.Andrea Leadsom, Minister of State for Energy at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, confirmed she will vote to leave the EU.
Link to @andrealeadsom letter https://t.co/jXFeiLUpMOLink to @andrealeadsom letter https://t.co/jXFeiLUpMO
If the UK chose to remain in the EU, Leadsom said that it would increasingly go from being a “senior partner” to a country whose views “count for little in Brussels and yet whose parliament is increasingly subservient to EU legislation.”If the UK chose to remain in the EU, Leadsom said that it would increasingly go from being a “senior partner” to a country whose views “count for little in Brussels and yet whose parliament is increasingly subservient to EU legislation.”
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.47pm GMTat 12.47pm GMT
12.41pm GMT
12:41
Details of the ‘inners’ and ‘outers’ from the cabinet are filtering out now, putting to rest some doubts.
Those backing an “In” include Sajid Javid, Business Secretary, and Jeremy Wright, Attorney General.
Confirmation @sajidjavid will campaign to remain in EU but will say no more now
Updated
at 12.41pm GMT
12.26pm GMT
12:26
Cameron: Referendum will take place on June 23
Cameron confirms - as expected - that the referendum will take place on June 23.
The prime minister said that the question will be about whether the UK “will be safer stronger and better off working in a reformed Europe or out on our own.”
As expected, it was an address that was heavy on warnings of the risks to leaving the EU. Britain would be better able to fight crime and terrorism by remaining in the EU.
Updated
at 12.37pm GMT
12.24pm GMT
12:24
David Cameron is now speaking outside of Downing Street, beginning by announcing the cabinet’s decision to back his deal, and saying that he wants to “speak directly to the British people.”
“We are approaching one of the biggest decisions we will face in our lifetime - whether we want to remain in the European Union or leave,” he says, adding that it is about jobs, financial security and how we cooperate to keep our country strong.
My responsibility is to speak plainly about what I believe is right about our country, says Cameron.
Echoing a line he has used more than a few times in the past few months, he adds: “I do not love Brussels. I love Britain. I am the first to say that there are many ways for Europe to improve.”
12.19pm GMT
12:19
David Cameron has tweeted:
The Cabinet has agreed to recommend that the UK remains in a reformed European Union. I will be making a referendum announcement shortly.
12.18pm GMT
12:18
Other than their opposition to the EU, those backing a Brexit are most obviously united by their unpopularity, according to the New Statesman’s New Statesman, George Eaton, who has written an interesting piece on the ‘Out’ campaign.
George Galloway, Nigel Farage, Michael Gove and Iain Duncan Smith are all “15 per cent, not 50 per cent politicians,” he adds.
He added:
There is just one figure left who could notably improve the Out campaign’s standing: Boris Johnson. Polls have consistently shown the Mayor of London to be the country’s most popular politician (a status that reflects his lack of responsibility, some Tory MPs grumble).
An Ipsos MORI survey this week found that only Cameron would have a bigger influence over how the public voted. There is no politician that the In campaign fears more.
He can reach parts of the electorate that other Tories can’t, boasting the invaluable talent of making voters feel good about themselves.
12.11pm GMT
12:11
Cameron prepares to make N10 statement
A podium has appeared outside 10 Downing Street. David Cameron is expected to come out within minutes.
Cameron expected shortly.. & no, he hasn't been replaced by an Indie rock musicianLiveblog https://t.co/CUVClY4zVj pic.twitter.com/UvcZdXfUFe
Updated
at 12.13pm GMT
12.06pm GMT
12:06
National newspaper reaction in the UK to David Cameron’s European Union deal was largely viewed through the prism of Michael Gove’s decision to out himself as an outer, according to Roy Greenslade.
Here’s his round-up.
11.52am GMT
11:52
Pro- or anti-EU? The Guardian’s Rowena Mason has filed a handy guide to what we know so far about the stance of those within the cabinet.
It includes three figures whose stance remains unclear:
Robert Halfon, Conservative deputy chairmanHalfon is a staunch Eurosceptic, telling Buzzfeed last year: “Yes, I would vote to leave but I genuinely want to see what Cameron does.” Since then, he has had a rapid rise under the sponsorship of Osborne, so it is possible he could be persuaded to back the remainers.
Jeremy Wright, attorney generalThe government’s most senior lawyer is said to be torn about which side to support.
Boris Johnson The London mayor is not a minister but he sits in Cameron’s political cabinet. He is thought to be an instinctive in-campaigner, but has flirted heavily with Euroscepticism in recent months and could make the leap to lead the out camp if he thought it had a chance of winning. To lead a victorious leave campaign would bolster his prime ministerial ambitions.
11.43am GMT
11:43
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has been talking about the approach he will take to the referendum, insisting that there has not been a “change of heart” by him on the issue of the European Union.
Asked how he voted in the 1975 referendum on Britain’s membership of what was then called the European Economic Community, Corbyn said that he had voted against the UK’s continued membership, but told Sky News in the last few minutes:
Things have obviously changed particularly in the sense of the economic direction in this country and the number of jobs that are dependent on Europe. If Britain was not part of the EU there could be enormous difficulties.
Asked if it was important that the EU existed as a unit in the first place, he responded:
I think the EU is a strong economic unit and it is important that it is a strong economic unit but it has to deliver for all.
David Cameron and others in the EU, he said, were pursuing an “austerity agenda”. Labour was opposed to this and wanted to work with others in the EU for change.
In relation to the referendum, he added
There is not going to be a joint campaign . There is going to be a Labour campaign asking people to vote in the direction I have indicated.
Asked what the approach would be towards members of the party who disagreed with his position on Europe and the upcoming referendum, he replied.
Every member of parliament and the shadow cabinet will make up their minds. There won’t be any sanctions against people who take a different point of view.
So far, notable Labour MPs who will be campaigning for Britain to leave the EU include Kate Hoey and Frank Field.
Doubts still remain about Corbyn’s enthusiasm too however:
Listening to Corbyn talk to @adamboultonSKY. Lab leader does not sound convincing at all about merits of EU, sounds like reluctant passenger
Updated
at 11.54am GMT
11.25am GMT
11:25
From Spain, Stephen Burgen reports that the Spanish media has yet to get too worked up about last night’s deal, although here’s a line from Eliseo Oliveras in El Periódico:
The concession to British blackmail consolidates the EU’s double standards: a generous accommodation of the demands of the powerful countries (Great Britain, Germany, France) and the implacable imposition of diktats on the weak (Greece and Spain).