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| Boris Johnson to campaign to leave the EU | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Conservative Mayor of London Boris Johnson is to campaign for Britain to leave the EU, the BBC understands. | Conservative Mayor of London Boris Johnson is to campaign for Britain to leave the EU, the BBC understands. |
| The MP's decision comes as ministers began campaigning over the UK's EU membership, after PM David Cameron called a referendum for 23 June. | The MP's decision comes as ministers began campaigning over the UK's EU membership, after PM David Cameron called a referendum for 23 June. |
| Mr Johnson is expected to confirm his decision in a statement later and set out his reasons in a Telegraph column. | |
| Mr Cameron - who is recommending the UK remains in the EU - told the BBC leaving would be "a leap in the dark". | |
| BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Johnson's decision would be seen as a huge boost to the Out campaign and a major blow to the prime minister, who had hoped to persuade friends and rivals to back the campaign to remain. | |
| Mr Johnson is expected to make a statement at about 17:00 GMT, BBC chief political correspondent Vicki Young said. | |
| It comes after days of speculation about which side he would join for the in/out referendum. | |
| Mr Johnson, who was elected to Parliament in May 2015 as the MP for Uxbridge and Ruislip South, joins six other ministers who attend cabinet in backing the campaign to leave. | Mr Johnson, who was elected to Parliament in May 2015 as the MP for Uxbridge and Ruislip South, joins six other ministers who attend cabinet in backing the campaign to leave. |
| Zac Goldsmith, who is hoping to become Mr Johnson's successor as London mayor in May, has also said he will vote to leave. | Zac Goldsmith, who is hoping to become Mr Johnson's successor as London mayor in May, has also said he will vote to leave. |
| 'Safer and stronger' | |
| Earlier, on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, the prime minister appealed to Mr Johnson not to side with the Leave camp. | |
| He said if Mr Johnson cared about "getting things done" in the world, being a member of the EU was important. | |
| And he said "linking arms" with Nigel Farage and George Galloway - members of the Grassroots Out movement which, along with Vote Leave, is vying to become the official Leave campaign - was "taking a leap into the dark" and "the wrong step for our country". | |
| Mr Cameron, who renegotiated the terms of Britain's membership of the EU, argues that the UK is "better, safer and stronger" being in the EU. | |
| Leaving, he says, might give the "illusion of sovereignty" but would actually weaken the UK's power and influence. | |
| What are your views on the EU referendum? Are you from the UK or one of the other EU member states? Share your reaction. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | What are your views on the EU referendum? Are you from the UK or one of the other EU member states? Share your reaction. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |