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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/feb/20/eu-deal-cameron-brussels-plan-cabinet-gove-brexit-live
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| Cameron names referendum date as Gove declares for Brexit – live | Cameron names referendum date as Gove declares for Brexit – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.49pm GMT | |
| 15:49 | |
| Not quite as exciting, perhaps, as the announcement of PJ Harvey’s return to Glastonbury, but an important one nonetheless for anyone under the impression that they could cast their referendum vote at the festival: | |
| It won’t be possible to have an #EUreferendum polling station at Glastonbury 2016. You can register for postal votes https://t.co/N6rF44BKVT | |
| 3.46pm GMT | |
| 15:46 | |
| Referendum timetable | |
| Chris Johnston | |
| So what can be expected over the next few months as that June 23 vote on EU membership approaches? | |
| The Guardian’s Chris Johnston has put together a useful timetable. You can read it in full here, although below are some highlights: | |
| Monday 22 February | |
| The prime minister will address the House of Commons, which must formally approve the date for the referendum. | |
| March/April | |
| Secondary legislation that follows theEuropean Union Referendum Act 2015 will come before parliament to | |
| Six weeks to go | |
| In the run-up to the vote, there is a formal campaigning period during which rules on campaigning, spending and finances apply. The Electoral Commission will publish a timetable showing the dates and deadlines for the referendum | |
| Thursday 5 May | |
| Elections for devolved parliaments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be held, along with the vote to decide’s London mayor and for control of many councils in England. | |
| Thursday 23 June | |
| Millions of voters will cast ballots to answer the question: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?” | |
| July and beyond | |
| If a majority vote to leave, the UK could do so two years after notifying the European Council of its intention. However, the process would not be simple and would still involve “complex and probably lengthy negotiations”, according to a parliamentary briefing paper (PDF). | |
| 3.30pm GMT | |
| 15:30 | |
| Staying with Scotland for a moment, the Guardian’s Libby Brooks points out how there are a few Scottish #indyref cobwebs on some of the slogans being deployed by David Cameron at the outset of the European referendum. | |
| Someone really needs to fix the random slogan generator...."stronger, safer & better off/together" is so Sept 2014 https://t.co/lV4WQxTg9m | |
| 3.27pm GMT | |
| 15:27 | |
| Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has pledged that the Scottish National Party will lead a “positive and upbeat” campaign to keep Scotland in the EU. | |
| She said that the referendum has been driven by the Conservative Party’s longstanding internal divisions on Europe and the challenge to the party from UKIP, rather than by the specifics of David Cameron’s renegotiation. Sturgeon added: | |
| We made it clear to the Prime Minister that we were opposed to a June 23rd referendum, given the overlap with our own Scottish election – but now that that date has been named we will get on with the job of campaigning for an ‘in’ vote. | |
| It’s important that the campaign to remain in the EU learns the lessons of Scotland’s independence referendum, so that it does not lapse into scaremongering and fear – that is why the SNP will be a leading voice in the weeks and months ahead in making the positive case for Scotland and the rest of the UK remaining in Europe. | |
| She was never a politician that could easily be caged in though.. | |
| 3.18pm GMT | 3.18pm GMT |
| 15:18 | 15:18 |
| A good round-up of initial reactions across the European press to the UK-EU agreement is also here, courtesy of Vincenzo Scarpetta, a policy analyst at Open Europe. | A good round-up of initial reactions across the European press to the UK-EU agreement is also here, courtesy of Vincenzo Scarpetta, a policy analyst at Open Europe. |
| Le Figaro’s front page editorial, headlined: ‘The kiss of death’ jumps out: | Le Figaro’s front page editorial, headlined: ‘The kiss of death’ jumps out: |
| If Britain remains in the EU on the conditions it has been offered, it kills it. If it leaves, it kills it too…As it is not combined with a project of collective relaunch, the Brussels compromise puts the worm into the fruit. | If Britain remains in the EU on the conditions it has been offered, it kills it. If it leaves, it kills it too…As it is not combined with a project of collective relaunch, the Brussels compromise puts the worm into the fruit. |
| No-one has reason any longer to bend to the common rules, since one can escape them by means of a little blackmail. | No-one has reason any longer to bend to the common rules, since one can escape them by means of a little blackmail. |
| In Italy, Adriana Cerretelli, Brussels correspondent for business daily Il Sole 24 Ore, doesn’t think the deal will change much at all though: | In Italy, Adriana Cerretelli, Brussels correspondent for business daily Il Sole 24 Ore, doesn’t think the deal will change much at all though: |
| In the end, the agreement arrived – without winners or losers. A deal between opposed weaknesses, shared by both those who want more Europe and those who want less. | In the end, the agreement arrived – without winners or losers. A deal between opposed weaknesses, shared by both those who want more Europe and those who want less. |
| Perhaps it wasn’t worth wasting so much time changing something that would change almost nothing. | Perhaps it wasn’t worth wasting so much time changing something that would change almost nothing. |
| 3.11pm GMT | 3.11pm GMT |
| 15:11 | 15:11 |
| From Germany, the Guardian’s Philip Oltermann draws attention to quite a strong comment piece in the newspaper, Die Zeit, where Matthias Krupa offers a damning critique of David Cameron’s strategy: | From Germany, the Guardian’s Philip Oltermann draws attention to quite a strong comment piece in the newspaper, Die Zeit, where Matthias Krupa offers a damning critique of David Cameron’s strategy: |
| He [Cameron] evoked the image of cumbersome Brussels bureaucracy because he is feeling the pressure at home. But this Brussels is yesterday’s cliche. | He [Cameron] evoked the image of cumbersome Brussels bureaucracy because he is feeling the pressure at home. But this Brussels is yesterday’s cliche. |
| While Aleppo is being bombarded and hundreds of thousands are fleeing their homes, Cameron has forced the EU to spend months engaging with the minutiae of the British benefits system. [...] | While Aleppo is being bombarded and hundreds of thousands are fleeing their homes, Cameron has forced the EU to spend months engaging with the minutiae of the British benefits system. [...] |
| The British prime minister isn’t the only one in the EU is questioning the union at the moment. But rarely has a national leader been so shameless in formulating and pursuing his national egotism as Cameron. If others follow his example, the union will not become stronger, but much weaker. | The British prime minister isn’t the only one in the EU is questioning the union at the moment. But rarely has a national leader been so shameless in formulating and pursuing his national egotism as Cameron. If others follow his example, the union will not become stronger, but much weaker. |
| 3.01pm GMT | 3.01pm GMT |
| 15:01 | 15:01 |
| The odds are strongly in favour of a vote for Britain to stay in the EU - but could change dramatically should Boris Johnson come out on the side to leave, according to the bookmaker, William Hill. | The odds are strongly in favour of a vote for Britain to stay in the EU - but could change dramatically should Boris Johnson come out on the side to leave, according to the bookmaker, William Hill. |
| Its Current odds are 2/7 for Britain to remain in the EU, and 5/2 to leave. | Its Current odds are 2/7 for Britain to remain in the EU, and 5/2 to leave. |
| Of the three regions in the UK William Hill is currently offering bets on, the odds suggest England, at 9/4, is more likely than Wales, at 3/1, and Scotland, at 6/1, to vote to leave. | Of the three regions in the UK William Hill is currently offering bets on, the odds suggest England, at 9/4, is more likely than Wales, at 3/1, and Scotland, at 6/1, to vote to leave. |
| 2.58pm GMT | 2.58pm GMT |
| 14:58 | 14:58 |
| The social media war continues. Here’s a fresh tweet from David Cameron, framing his argument for a vote for Britain to remain in the UK, and linking to his statement earlier following this morning’s cabinet meeting: | The social media war continues. Here’s a fresh tweet from David Cameron, framing his argument for a vote for Britain to remain in the UK, and linking to his statement earlier following this morning’s cabinet meeting: |
| On June 23rd, you will decide if Britain is stronger, safer and better off in a reformed EU. My #EUref statement: https://t.co/sK9kAu567p | On June 23rd, you will decide if Britain is stronger, safer and better off in a reformed EU. My #EUref statement: https://t.co/sK9kAu567p |
| 2.55pm GMT | 2.55pm GMT |
| 14:55 | 14:55 |
| Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, has been framing the negotiations as a success from his country’s point of view. | Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, has been framing the negotiations as a success from his country’s point of view. |
| Dan Nolan reports on a press conference by Orban, who was a key negotiating partner for David Cameron over the past 12 months: | Dan Nolan reports on a press conference by Orban, who was a key negotiating partner for David Cameron over the past 12 months: |
| Orbán said “The success of the negotiations is underlined by the fact that Hungarian workers will continue to have access to benefits, free from discrimination. Thanks to the results achieved at the negotiations, they will continue to be eligible for everything that they have paid for to date. | Orbán said “The success of the negotiations is underlined by the fact that Hungarian workers will continue to have access to benefits, free from discrimination. Thanks to the results achieved at the negotiations, they will continue to be eligible for everything that they have paid for to date. |
| The regulations on foreign workers have also remained unalterable. For those who have taken up employment in Britain and who have families, the negotiating parties have succeeded in ensuring that if their children live in another EU Member State they should be eligible for social benefits adjusted to the standard of living of the country of origin. | The regulations on foreign workers have also remained unalterable. For those who have taken up employment in Britain and who have families, the negotiating parties have succeeded in ensuring that if their children live in another EU Member State they should be eligible for social benefits adjusted to the standard of living of the country of origin. |
| Families whose children live in the United Kingdom will be eligible to all the benefits that are available to children in British families. “We have done everything we could; the decision now lies with the British. | Families whose children live in the United Kingdom will be eligible to all the benefits that are available to children in British families. “We have done everything we could; the decision now lies with the British. |
| 2.48pm GMT | 2.48pm GMT |
| 14:48 | 14:48 |
| There’s a view emerging in France that David Cameron came out on top during tussles in Brussels, reports Bruce Crumley, who has been looking at reactions for the Guardian | There’s a view emerging in France that David Cameron came out on top during tussles in Brussels, reports Bruce Crumley, who has been looking at reactions for the Guardian |
| In his own post-agreement comments on Friday French President François Hollande argued that nothing granted to London compromised any EU founding principles. | In his own post-agreement comments on Friday French President François Hollande argued that nothing granted to London compromised any EU founding principles. |
| “There were no exceptions (given) on single market rules, no revisions for treaties, there is no United Kingdom veto for the eurozone” Hollande declared, stressing Paris’ rejection of changes that could lead to The City gaining regulatory breaks or advantages that other European financial centres don’t enjoy,” he said. | “There were no exceptions (given) on single market rules, no revisions for treaties, there is no United Kingdom veto for the eurozone” Hollande declared, stressing Paris’ rejection of changes that could lead to The City gaining regulatory breaks or advantages that other European financial centres don’t enjoy,” he said. |
| Not everyone was buying that claim of firmness, however. In his coverage, Libération’s Brussels’s correspondent Jean Quatremer quoted politicians from EU states criticizing the deal, and warned “concessions envisaged by the 28 (members) to avoid Brexit risk creating a dangerous precedent.” | Not everyone was buying that claim of firmness, however. In his coverage, Libération’s Brussels’s correspondent Jean Quatremer quoted politicians from EU states criticizing the deal, and warned “concessions envisaged by the 28 (members) to avoid Brexit risk creating a dangerous precedent.” |
| The story quoted Belgian Socialist Paul Magnette fretting the accord may mark “a potential unraveling” of the EU as other states similarly seek tailored rules. Magnette also spanked Hollande for caving in on fundamental issues he’d pledge to defend. | The story quoted Belgian Socialist Paul Magnette fretting the accord may mark “a potential unraveling” of the EU as other states similarly seek tailored rules. Magnette also spanked Hollande for caving in on fundamental issues he’d pledge to defend. |
| “(The EU) should have been firm and told London, ‘Political declarations, perhaps, but no engagements that risk reversing European integration. Certainly not’,” Magnette said. | “(The EU) should have been firm and told London, ‘Political declarations, perhaps, but no engagements that risk reversing European integration. Certainly not’,” Magnette said. |
| Libération also quoted French centrist European MP Dominique Riquet complaining “the spectacle created by (threatened) Brexit is pathetic… It’s simple after all: if Great Britain doesn’t want to be in, then it’s out!” | Libération also quoted French centrist European MP Dominique Riquet complaining “the spectacle created by (threatened) Brexit is pathetic… It’s simple after all: if Great Britain doesn’t want to be in, then it’s out!” |
| That latter view jibed with the majority of reader responses to coverage of the agreement – along with the prevailing sentiment that Cameron got the better of Hollande and other EU leaders. Bernard Monot, an EMP from anti-EU National Front agreed, told le Figaro that based on Cameron’s deal, “Frexit will be pasted from the Brexit model, and we’ll demand the same concessions as the United Kingdom.” | That latter view jibed with the majority of reader responses to coverage of the agreement – along with the prevailing sentiment that Cameron got the better of Hollande and other EU leaders. Bernard Monot, an EMP from anti-EU National Front agreed, told le Figaro that based on Cameron’s deal, “Frexit will be pasted from the Brexit model, and we’ll demand the same concessions as the United Kingdom.” |
| 2.37pm GMT | 2.37pm GMT |
| 14:37 | 14:37 |
| So we’ve got the June 23 date for the referendum confirmed. But what’s it going to face in terms of competion? | So we’ve got the June 23 date for the referendum confirmed. But what’s it going to face in terms of competion? |
| Well, for starters, there’s Glastonbury, which takes place on June 22-26. Make sure you arrange a postal vote as well as putting aside a pair of wellies. | Well, for starters, there’s Glastonbury, which takes place on June 22-26. Make sure you arrange a postal vote as well as putting aside a pair of wellies. |
| Middle class problems - people complaining about the #EUreferendum clashing with Glastonbury | Middle class problems - people complaining about the #EUreferendum clashing with Glastonbury |
| Plus it’s slap bang in the middle of the European Championships, which last from June 10 to July 10. | Plus it’s slap bang in the middle of the European Championships, which last from June 10 to July 10. |
| Whether England or Wales will still be competing that that time is another matter (cough).. | Whether England or Wales will still be competing that that time is another matter (cough).. |
| The EU referendum campaigns have big June opportunity with voters who find football boring! May struggle for attention until late with fans | The EU referendum campaigns have big June opportunity with voters who find football boring! May struggle for attention until late with fans |
| Amazing how many Arsenal supporters like me have been forced to miss the Hull match by need to make sense of Government's European policy | Amazing how many Arsenal supporters like me have been forced to miss the Hull match by need to make sense of Government's European policy |
| 2.05pm GMT | 2.05pm GMT |
| 14:05 | 14:05 |
| It’s doubtful that the reforms reached in Brussels by David Cameron will significantly bring down migration from the rest of the EU, according to the influential think tank, the Institute For Public Policy Research, which has released an analysis. | It’s doubtful that the reforms reached in Brussels by David Cameron will significantly bring down migration from the rest of the EU, according to the influential think tank, the Institute For Public Policy Research, which has released an analysis. |
| IPPR Research Fellow, Marley Morris, adds however: | IPPR Research Fellow, Marley Morris, adds however: |
| Our research suggests that the public care about the issue of benefits in principle, because they see the current rules as unfair on Britain, and so the changes are an important part of the final deal. | Our research suggests that the public care about the issue of benefits in principle, because they see the current rules as unfair on Britain, and so the changes are an important part of the final deal. |
| On the other hand, when discussing the draft deal with some of our research participants in Peterborough, they were unimpressed with the details of the emergency brake - particularly when they discovered that its use had to be authorised by other member states. | On the other hand, when discussing the draft deal with some of our research participants in Peterborough, they were unimpressed with the details of the emergency brake - particularly when they discovered that its use had to be authorised by other member states. |
| The question now is whether, in the public’s mind, these changes will be perceived as a credible effort to address concerns or as too complicated and insubstantial to fully convince. | The question now is whether, in the public’s mind, these changes will be perceived as a credible effort to address concerns or as too complicated and insubstantial to fully convince. |
| 1.52pm GMT | 1.52pm GMT |
| 13:52 | 13:52 |
| Can David Cameron remain as leader and prime minister if the UK votes to leave the EU? | Can David Cameron remain as leader and prime minister if the UK votes to leave the EU? |
| “Yes he can stay, and he must,” Chris Grayling told BBC Radio 4. | “Yes he can stay, and he must,” Chris Grayling told BBC Radio 4. |
| That would put Cameron in the position of having to be at the forefront of renegotiating Britain’s new position outside of Euope, something which he has described as a leap in the dark. Cameron is expected by many commentators to fall on his sword in the even of a vote to leave. | That would put Cameron in the position of having to be at the forefront of renegotiating Britain’s new position outside of Euope, something which he has described as a leap in the dark. Cameron is expected by many commentators to fall on his sword in the even of a vote to leave. |
| Grayling said earlier that it wasn’t a question of not trusting the prime minister’s judgement, insisting that the Conservative Party would not be divided over the coming months. | Grayling said earlier that it wasn’t a question of not trusting the prime minister’s judgement, insisting that the Conservative Party would not be divided over the coming months. |
| “We are friends and colleagues. We are not going to allow this to rip the Conservative party apart,” he added. | “We are friends and colleagues. We are not going to allow this to rip the Conservative party apart,” he added. |
| Here’s a little more of what he said to Mark Mardell on the BBC’s World At One: | Here’s a little more of what he said to Mark Mardell on the BBC’s World At One: |
| 1.40pm GMT | 1.40pm GMT |
| 13:40 | 13:40 |
| Chris Grayling says David Cameron had moved mountains but that there is only “so much change” that the EU is willing to countenance. | Chris Grayling says David Cameron had moved mountains but that there is only “so much change” that the EU is willing to countenance. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4 in the last few minutes, the leader of the House of Commons, said that the UK would be bit “part players” if it continued to remain in the EU. | Speaking to BBC Radio 4 in the last few minutes, the leader of the House of Commons, said that the UK would be bit “part players” if it continued to remain in the EU. |
| “There are whole series of key decisions which I think we need to be take in our national interest, and which we have given to the EU,” he added. | “There are whole series of key decisions which I think we need to be take in our national interest, and which we have given to the EU,” he added. |
| He said that he had known for a long time that he would campaign against remaining in the EU, having sat through five years of “frustrating” meetings in Brussels. | He said that he had known for a long time that he would campaign against remaining in the EU, having sat through five years of “frustrating” meetings in Brussels. |
| He instanced new pieces of legislation that he said added extra levels of bureaucracy, health and welfare costs. | He instanced new pieces of legislation that he said added extra levels of bureaucracy, health and welfare costs. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.41pm GMT | at 1.41pm GMT |