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Cameron names referendum date as Gove leans towards Brexit – live | |
(35 minutes later) | |
12.58pm GMT | |
12:58 | |
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. | |
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 : | |
Surprising lack of thought in this photo. Glasses outnumber minorities and women. Grayling doing an O face. pic.twitter.com/QPbJkIN9Ij | |
12.53pm GMT | |
12:53 | |
Gove 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: | |
#voteleavetakecontrol pic.twitter.com/MgPp1bQDF0 | |
Updated | |
at 12.53pm GMT | |
12.51pm GMT | |
12:51 | |
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.” | |
Greening will campaign for IN. #BREXIT pic.twitter.com/6oijVoFB8R | |
Updated | |
at 12.52pm GMT | |
12.48pm GMT | |
12:48 | |
Another 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/1jmUVIE55b | |
12.44pm GMT | |
12:44 | |
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/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.” | |
Updated | |
at 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 | 12.19pm GMT |
12:19 | 12:19 |
David Cameron has tweeted: | 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. | 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 | 12.18pm GMT |
12:18 | 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. | 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. | George Galloway, Nigel Farage, Michael Gove and Iain Duncan Smith are all “15 per cent, not 50 per cent politicians,” he adds. |
He added: | 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). | 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. | 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. | 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 | 12.11pm GMT |
12:11 | 12:11 |
Cameron prepares to make N10 statement | Cameron prepares to make N10 statement |
A podium has appeared outside 10 Downing Street. David Cameron is expected to come out within minutes. | 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 | Cameron expected shortly.. & no, he hasn't been replaced by an Indie rock musicianLiveblog https://t.co/CUVClY4zVj pic.twitter.com/UvcZdXfUFe |
Updated | Updated |
at 12.13pm GMT | at 12.13pm GMT |
12.06pm GMT | 12.06pm GMT |
12:06 | 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. | 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. | Here’s his round-up. |
11.52am GMT | 11.52am GMT |
11:52 | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | 11.43am GMT |
11:43 | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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: | 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 | Listening to Corbyn talk to @adamboultonSKY. Lab leader does not sound convincing at all about merits of EU, sounds like reluctant passenger |
Updated | Updated |
at 11.54am GMT | at 11.54am GMT |
11.25am GMT | 11.25am GMT |
11:25 | 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: | 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). | 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). |