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| EU campaign has begun – but can Cameron hold his cabinet together? EU campaign has begun – but can Cameron hold his cabinet together? | |
| (2 months later) | |
| It was a once-in-a-generation moment. Outside 10 Downing Street on a grey February afternoon, David Cameron gave the British people the chance to change their nation’s history. “We are approaching one of the biggest decisions this country will face in our lifetimes,” he said. “Whether to remain in a reformed European Union – or to leave. | It was a once-in-a-generation moment. Outside 10 Downing Street on a grey February afternoon, David Cameron gave the British people the chance to change their nation’s history. “We are approaching one of the biggest decisions this country will face in our lifetimes,” he said. “Whether to remain in a reformed European Union – or to leave. |
| “This choice goes to the heart of the kind of country we want to be. And the future that we want for our children.” | “This choice goes to the heart of the kind of country we want to be. And the future that we want for our children.” |
| There are times when merely occupying the office of prime minister sets holders of the position apart and invests them with authority when they need it most. Given what is at stake for the UK and for his own political legacy, Cameron had to seize his chance. If he loses the summer referendum, after his transition from Eurosceptic prime minister to keen advocate of the union, he is highly unlikely to remain as prime minister. | There are times when merely occupying the office of prime minister sets holders of the position apart and invests them with authority when they need it most. Given what is at stake for the UK and for his own political legacy, Cameron had to seize his chance. If he loses the summer referendum, after his transition from Eurosceptic prime minister to keen advocate of the union, he is highly unlikely to remain as prime minister. |
| Cameron had flown back from Brussels in the early hours of Saturday, exhausted, after two gruelling days and a night of negotiations with fellow EU leaders. | Cameron had flown back from Brussels in the early hours of Saturday, exhausted, after two gruelling days and a night of negotiations with fellow EU leaders. |
| His mood on the journey home – he had just three hours’ sleep around dawn on Friday – was not lifted by news that his friend and cabinet colleague Michael Gove was to campaign to leave the EU against his wishes. The big unanswered question this weekend is which way Boris Johnson will go: for in or for out? | His mood on the journey home – he had just three hours’ sleep around dawn on Friday – was not lifted by news that his friend and cabinet colleague Michael Gove was to campaign to leave the EU against his wishes. The big unanswered question this weekend is which way Boris Johnson will go: for in or for out? |
| Cameron emerged into the drizzle of Downing Street after a tense two-hour cabinet meeting on Saturday at which he had explained the deal he had achieved. Officials said it had been a “very dignified” affair and that even those who will campaign for Out had agreed the prime minister had done well. In truth, what he returned with is a limited package of reforms and everyone knew it, but he must now present it as more. He called it “Britain’s new settlement with the European Union”. | Cameron emerged into the drizzle of Downing Street after a tense two-hour cabinet meeting on Saturday at which he had explained the deal he had achieved. Officials said it had been a “very dignified” affair and that even those who will campaign for Out had agreed the prime minister had done well. In truth, what he returned with is a limited package of reforms and everyone knew it, but he must now present it as more. He called it “Britain’s new settlement with the European Union”. |
| Cameron confirmed that the in/out referendum will be held on Thursday 23 June, 41 years on from that staged by Harold Wilson and his Labour government in 1975. | Cameron confirmed that the in/out referendum will be held on Thursday 23 June, 41 years on from that staged by Harold Wilson and his Labour government in 1975. |
| He did not seek to oversell his achievements. But they represented progress, he said, in keeping the UK out of an EU superstate, in curbing immigration, and safeguarding the British economy from the adverse effects of decisions taken by eurozone members. | He did not seek to oversell his achievements. But they represented progress, he said, in keeping the UK out of an EU superstate, in curbing immigration, and safeguarding the British economy from the adverse effects of decisions taken by eurozone members. |
| “The question is: will we be safer, stronger and better off working together in a reformed Europe or out on our own?” Cameron said. “I believe we will be safer in a reformed Europe, because we can work with our European partners to fight cross-border crime and terrorism. | “The question is: will we be safer, stronger and better off working together in a reformed Europe or out on our own?” Cameron said. “I believe we will be safer in a reformed Europe, because we can work with our European partners to fight cross-border crime and terrorism. |
| “I believe Britain will be stronger in a reformed Europe because we can play a leading role in one of the world’s largest organisations from within, helping to make the big decisions on trade and security that determine our future. | “I believe Britain will be stronger in a reformed Europe because we can play a leading role in one of the world’s largest organisations from within, helping to make the big decisions on trade and security that determine our future. |
| “And I believe we will be better off in a reformed Europe because British businesses will have full access to the free-trade single market – bringing jobs, investment and lower prices.” | “And I believe we will be better off in a reformed Europe because British businesses will have full access to the free-trade single market – bringing jobs, investment and lower prices.” |
| In the space of 24 hours, Cameron has metamorphosed from the critic of the EU who became Tory leader in 2005 on a manifesto that appealed to Eurosceptics into a staunch defender and leader of the UK case for staying in. At his late-night press conference in Brussels on Friday, it was like listening to a different prime minister. | In the space of 24 hours, Cameron has metamorphosed from the critic of the EU who became Tory leader in 2005 on a manifesto that appealed to Eurosceptics into a staunch defender and leader of the UK case for staying in. At his late-night press conference in Brussels on Friday, it was like listening to a different prime minister. |
| On Saturday he was careful to say he did not “love Brussels” but loved his country. But he also asked people to think about why the European Union had been formed in the aftermath of two world wars, and said it had been to keep the continent at peace. His brow knitted, he insisted it would be folly to stand apart from our EU partners at a time when the world was “an uncertain place with threats to our security and existence coming from multiple quarters”. | On Saturday he was careful to say he did not “love Brussels” but loved his country. But he also asked people to think about why the European Union had been formed in the aftermath of two world wars, and said it had been to keep the continent at peace. His brow knitted, he insisted it would be folly to stand apart from our EU partners at a time when the world was “an uncertain place with threats to our security and existence coming from multiple quarters”. |
| There were strong echoes of the Scottish referendum campaign to keep the UK together, but his message was broader, his tone more imploring. “This is a time to stick together: a time for strength in numbers.” | There were strong echoes of the Scottish referendum campaign to keep the UK together, but his message was broader, his tone more imploring. “This is a time to stick together: a time for strength in numbers.” |
| Most cabinet ministers spoke at the morning meeting. It was agreed that those who will campaign to leave would not all emerge at once to attack the prime minister’s deal. To do so would have given the impression of a dysfunctional government, and terrible disunity ahead of a historic decision. | Most cabinet ministers spoke at the morning meeting. It was agreed that those who will campaign to leave would not all emerge at once to attack the prime minister’s deal. To do so would have given the impression of a dysfunctional government, and terrible disunity ahead of a historic decision. |
| But soon after Gove confirmed he was for Out. “It pains me to have to disagree with the prime minister on any issue. My instinct is to support him through good times and bad,” the justice secretary said in a statement before adapting Cameron’s words to take precisely the opposite position. Cameron had said “we are stronger, safer and better off” inside the EU. Gove declared: “I believe our country would be freer, fairer and better off outside the EU. And if, at this moment of decision, I didn’t say what I believe, I would not be true to my convictions or my country.” | But soon after Gove confirmed he was for Out. “It pains me to have to disagree with the prime minister on any issue. My instinct is to support him through good times and bad,” the justice secretary said in a statement before adapting Cameron’s words to take precisely the opposite position. Cameron had said “we are stronger, safer and better off” inside the EU. Gove declared: “I believe our country would be freer, fairer and better off outside the EU. And if, at this moment of decision, I didn’t say what I believe, I would not be true to my convictions or my country.” |
| Gove said the UK was powerless in many areas because “our membership of the European Union prevents us being able to change huge swaths 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. We can take out our anger on elected representatives in Westminster but whoever is in government in London cannot remove or reduce VAT, cannot support a steel plant through troubled times, cannot build the houses we need where they’re needed and cannot deport all the individuals who shouldn’t be in this country.” | Gove said the UK was powerless in many areas because “our membership of the European Union prevents us being able to change huge swaths 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. We can take out our anger on elected representatives in Westminster but whoever is in government in London cannot remove or reduce VAT, cannot support a steel plant through troubled times, cannot build the houses we need where they’re needed and cannot deport all the individuals who shouldn’t be in this country.” |
| This week the campaigns to stay and leave will move into overdrive. The Out side have been at war with each other for months but now hope that Gove will bind them together and lead them to victory. Cameron was reassured yesterday that home secretary Theresa May will campaign for In. | This week the campaigns to stay and leave will move into overdrive. The Out side have been at war with each other for months but now hope that Gove will bind them together and lead them to victory. Cameron was reassured yesterday that home secretary Theresa May will campaign for In. |
| On Sunday morning Cameron will appear on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show and try again to sell his deal to the public. Then on Monday he will address parliament. Johnson remains the big unknown and his support will be a coup for whichever side he chooses. Downing Street hopes the mayor of London can be convinced to back the In side by new proposals that Cameron will unveil within days to strengthen British sovereignty and keep the influence of the EU at bay. For months Johnson has been keeping his old Etonian rival guessing as to which side of the fence he will come down on. But with Cameron’s agreement now set in stone, there is no reason for him to obfuscate any longer – and if he does he will simply attract ridicule. | On Sunday morning Cameron will appear on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show and try again to sell his deal to the public. Then on Monday he will address parliament. Johnson remains the big unknown and his support will be a coup for whichever side he chooses. Downing Street hopes the mayor of London can be convinced to back the In side by new proposals that Cameron will unveil within days to strengthen British sovereignty and keep the influence of the EU at bay. For months Johnson has been keeping his old Etonian rival guessing as to which side of the fence he will come down on. But with Cameron’s agreement now set in stone, there is no reason for him to obfuscate any longer – and if he does he will simply attract ridicule. |
| Johnson was not at yesterday’s cabinet meeting because it was a gathering of ministers of the government, and he only attends political sessions. Downing Street officials say no one knows what his eventual decision will be. “It depends who you talk to you,” one said. | Johnson was not at yesterday’s cabinet meeting because it was a gathering of ministers of the government, and he only attends political sessions. Downing Street officials say no one knows what his eventual decision will be. “It depends who you talk to you,” one said. |
| There is similar uncertainty over the vote itself on 23 June, which represents a giant gamble with British public opinion that is currently too close to call. The informed view is that roughly 30% of the public is currently for Out and 30% for In with the remaining 40% of votes still up for grabs. | There is similar uncertainty over the vote itself on 23 June, which represents a giant gamble with British public opinion that is currently too close to call. The informed view is that roughly 30% of the public is currently for Out and 30% for In with the remaining 40% of votes still up for grabs. |
| Which way will Boris jump? Which way will the British people jump? What some have deemed a phoney war with Britain’s EU partners, conducted around negotiating tables from Brussels to Berlin, is over. For the next four months, the drama and angst will be concentrated on these shores, as competing versions of our future are offered to a population about to wake up to the gravity of the decision it has to make. | Which way will Boris jump? Which way will the British people jump? What some have deemed a phoney war with Britain’s EU partners, conducted around negotiating tables from Brussels to Berlin, is over. For the next four months, the drama and angst will be concentrated on these shores, as competing versions of our future are offered to a population about to wake up to the gravity of the decision it has to make. |