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Boris Johnson to campaign to leave the EU Boris Johnson says UK is better off outside 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 has said he has decided "after a huge amount of heartache" to campaign for Britain to leave the EU.
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. He said the EU was eroding British sovereignty and PM David Cameron's EU reform deal would not bring about fundamental change of its membership.
Mr Johnson is expected to confirm his decision in a statement later and set out his reasons in a Telegraph column. His decision pits him against Mr Cameron, who is calling for Britain to stay in a "reformed" EU.
Mr Cameron - who is recommending the UK remains in the EU - told the BBC leaving would be "a leap in the dark". The prime minister says leaving the EU would be a "leap in the dark".
The announcement by Mr Johnson, MP for Uxbridge and Ruislip South, follows intense speculation about which side he would back.
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.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. Mr Cameron issued a last-ditch plea to Mr Johnson - seen as a potential future Conservative party leader - to back staying in the EU, during an appearance on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show earlier.
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.
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''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 key.
He said if Mr Johnson cared about "getting things done" in the world, being a member of the EU was important. And, he added, "linking arms" with Nigel Farage and George Galloway - part of the Grassroots Out movement which is one of two groups vying to become the official 'Leave' campaign - is "taking a leap into the dark and is the wrong step for our country".
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.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. And he said that withdrawing from the 28-member bloc might give the "illusion of sovereignty" but would actually weaken the UK's power and influence.
However, his argument for remaining in the union was not enough to convince Mr Johnson, who joins six other ministers who attend cabinet in backing the campaign to leave.
Among them are Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith and Justice Secretary Michael Gove.
Zac Goldsmith, who is hoping to become Mr Johnson's successor as London mayor in May, has also said he will vote to leave.
Some of those backing Brexit had spoken of their hopes that Mr Johnson would become the figurehead of the Out campaign, reaching out to large swathes of voters in a way that many politicians in Westminster cannot.
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.
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