This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/21/world/europe/british-prime-minister-announces-eu-referendum-date.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
British Prime Minister Announces E.U. Referendum Date British Prime Minister Announces E.U. Referendum Date
(about 3 hours later)
LONDON — Britons will vote on June 23 on whether to stay in the European Union or to quit, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Saturday, announcing the date of a referendum that could have momentous consequences for his country, and for Europe. LONDON — Britons will vote on June 23 on whether to stay in the European Union or to quit, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Saturday, announcing the date of a referendum that could have momentous consequences for his country, and for Europe.
Mr. Cameron made the announcement after chairing a meeting of his cabinet – which is divided over Europe – and hours after securing a hard-fought deal which he said gave Britain “special status” in the 28-nation bloc, within which he wants Britain to remain. Mr. Cameron made the announcement after presiding over a meeting of his cabinet — which is divided over Europe — and hours after securing a hard-fought deal, which he said gave Britain “special status” in the 28-nation bloc.
“We are approaching one of the biggest decisions this country will face in our lifetimes,” Mr. Cameron said outside his office on Downing Street, adding that he would recommend a vote to stay. “Leaving Europe would threaten our economic and national security,” he added.“We are approaching one of the biggest decisions this country will face in our lifetimes,” Mr. Cameron said outside his office on Downing Street, adding that he would recommend a vote to stay. “Leaving Europe would threaten our economic and national security,” he added.
Underlining the historic nature of the decision facing Britain, the cabinet met for the first time on a Saturday in more than three decades, and talked for more than two hours. Highlighting the historic nature of the decision facing Britain, the cabinet met for the first time on a Saturday in more than three decades, and talked for more than two hours.
Were Britons to vote to leave, that could deal a huge blow to the union which has battled to control an economic crisis in its single currency zone, and is confronted by a wave of migrants, prompted partly by the bloody civil war in Syria. A vote by Britons to exit would be a huge blow to the union, which has battled to control an economic crisis in its single-currency zone, and is confronted by a wave of migrants, prompted partly by the civil war in Syria.
For Britain, a withdrawal would have massive implications too, because it could lose automatic access to Europe’s single market, provoke economic uncertainty and leave the country more isolated internationally. That risk was highlighted by Mr. Cameron who described a British withdrawal as a “ leap in the dark.” For Britain, a withdrawal would have major implications, too, because it could lose automatic access to Europe’s single market, provoke economic uncertainty and leave the country more isolated internationally. That risk was highlighted by Mr. Cameron, who described a British withdrawal as a “ leap in the dark.”
Yet the referendum remains a huge gamble for Mr. Cameron, who has often sounded critical of the European Union in the past, but has now shifted gear to support a bloc that he admits he does not love. On Friday he made an impassioned plea to Britons to remain in the European Union, after securing his new deal which covered a range of economic, sovereignty, and welfare issues. Yet the referendum remains a gamble for Mr. Cameron, who has often sounded critical of the European Union in the past, but has now shifted to support a bloc that he admits he does not love. On Friday, he made an impassioned plea to Britons to remain in the European Union, after securing his new deal, which covered a variety of economic, sovereignty and welfare issues.
His most senior allies, including, significantly, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, will support Mr. Cameron’s bid to stay inside the bloc. His most senior allies, including, significantly, Theresa May, the home secretary, will support Mr. Cameron’s bid to stay inside the bloc.
Yet six cabinet ministers made made clear Saturday that they will campaign for a British exit – known as Brexit. Yet six cabinet ministers made it clear on Saturday that they will campaign for a British exit — known as Brexit.
The most significant of those is Michael Gove, a cabinet minister, close ally and personal friend of Mr. Cameron whose decision personifies the fissures at the top of Mr. Cameron’s Conservatives. But uncertainty surrounds the position of Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, whose support would be seen as a big asset by the “no” campaign because he is renowned as a communicator. The most significant of those is Michael Gove, a close ally and personal friend of Mr. Cameron whose decision personifies the fissures at the top of Mr. Cameron’s Conservatives. But uncertainty surrounds the position of Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, whose support would be seen as a big asset by the “no” campaign because he is renowned as a communicator.
Mr. Johnson has not yet made his views clear, and his position is thought by many to be significant because the outcome of referendum is hard to predict. Opinion polls suggest that the British public is split on the issue and much of the media has criticized Mr. Cameron’s renegotiation to change British ties. Mr. Johnson has not yet made his views clear, and his position is thought by many to be significant because the outcome of the referendum is hard to predict. Opinion polls suggest that the British public is split on the issue, and much of the news media has criticized Mr. Cameron’s renegotiation to change British ties with the union.
However, supporters of European Union membership hope that Mr. Cameron’s status as an election-winning prime minister will prove decisive in the referendum campaign, which will be the first British plebiscite on Europe since 1975. Then, Britons voted by a clear margin to stay in what was then called the European Economic Community, which they had joined in 1973.However, supporters of European Union membership hope that Mr. Cameron’s status as an election-winning prime minister will prove decisive in the referendum campaign, which will be the first British plebiscite on Europe since 1975. Then, Britons voted by a clear margin to stay in what was then called the European Economic Community, which they had joined in 1973.
Mr. Cameron returned to London late Friday after more than 30 hours of talks to secure a deal which, he said, was good enough to give Britain “the best of both worlds,” allowing the country to have the benefits of European Union membership while staying out of its single currency and passport-free travel zone. Mr. Cameron returned to London late Friday after more than 30 hours of talks to secure a deal which, he said, was good enough to give Britain “the best of both worlds,” allowing the country to have the benefits of European Union membership while staying out of its single-currency and passport-free travel zone.
While not the fundamental shift in the relationship which Mr. Cameron once seemed to promise, the agreement struck in Brussels did give Britain some significant concessions and safeguards. While not the fundamental shift in the relationship that Mr. Cameron once seemed to promise, the agreement struck in Brussels did give Britain some significant concessions and safeguards.
The talks proved so tough because several of Mr. Cameron’s demands appeared to contradict fundamental European Union principles, including the right of all Europeans to live and work in any member states with equal treatment.The talks proved so tough because several of Mr. Cameron’s demands appeared to contradict fundamental European Union principles, including the right of all Europeans to live and work in any member states with equal treatment.
In the end, the deal gave Britain a carve out from a treaty obligation to pursue “ever closer union,” one of the bloc’s most important, if symbolic, pledges. In the end, the deal gave Britain an exemption from a treaty obligation to pursue “ever closer union,” one of the bloc’s most important, if symbolic, pledges.
Mr. Cameron also won the right to restrict, for four years, welfare entitlements for citizens from other European Union countries who come to Britain to work. These include in-work benefits, which typically supplement the income of low-paid workers.Mr. Cameron also won the right to restrict, for four years, welfare entitlements for citizens from other European Union countries who come to Britain to work. These include in-work benefits, which typically supplement the income of low-paid workers.
The deal also covered restrictions on child benefit – though on the detail of this part of the agreement Mr. Cameron had to compromise on what he had originally wanted. The deal also covered restrictions on child benefits — though Mr. Cameron had to compromise on the details of this part of the agreement from what he had originally wanted.
Mr. Cameron also received safeguards to ensure that Britain’s financial sector will not face discrimination as a result of the fact that Britain did not join the euro currency, and kept the pound sterling. Mr. Cameron also received safeguards to ensure that Britain’s financial sector would not face discrimination as a result of the fact that Britain did not join the euro currency, and kept the pound sterling.