This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35634239

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
EU referendum: Leaving EU a 'leap in the dark' says Cameron EU referendum: Leaving EU a 'leap in the dark' says Cameron
(about 1 hour later)
David Cameron has warned that leaving the European Union "could hurt working people for years to come". David Cameron has warned that leaving the European Union "could hurt working people for years to come" as he put the case for staying in the EU to MPs.
He told MPs that the country faced the choice of becoming an "even greater Britain" by staying in or taking a "leap into the dark" by exiting. He said the choice was between an "even greater Britain" by staying in, or a "leap into the dark" by exiting.
The outcome of the 23 June referendum would be final, he said, warning that in an event of a vote to leave "divorce talks" would begin immediately. There were thinly veiled swipes at Boris Johnson, including the PM ruling out the idea of a second referendum.
More than 100 Conservative MPs have said they want to leave. More than 100 Conservative MPs want to leave the EU, including some ministers sat alongside the PM in the Commons.
Among those arguing that the UK would be better off outside the EU is Mayor of London Boris Johnson. In the statement to the Commons, Mr Cameron told MPs that, as a prime minister who was not going to seek re-election, he had "no other agenda than what is best for our country".
In a statement to the Commons, the prime minister said the deal he negotiated with the EU's 27 other states would give the UK a "special status" within the EU and ensure it never became part of a European super-state. That was seen as pointed reference to Mr Johnson, has been accused by some of putting personal political ambition ahead of principle in deciding to campaign for EU exit.
The Conservative MP has rejected that suggestion and insisted that he has long been sceptical of the benefits of UK membership and the UK has a "great future" outside it.
Intervening during the PM's statement, Mr Johnson urged the prime minister to say how the deal he negotiated would "in any way" return sovereignty to the UK.
The prime minister defended the deal he negotiated with the EU's 27 other states, telling MPs it would give the UK a "special status" within the EU and ensure it never became part of a European super-state.
'Not on ballot'
The UK would be "safer and stronger" as a result of a exemption from ever-closer union, limits to in-work benefits for EU migrants that he said could last up to 2028 and protection for countries outside the eurozone, telling MPs that the UK was "better off fighting from the inside".The UK would be "safer and stronger" as a result of a exemption from ever-closer union, limits to in-work benefits for EU migrants that he said could last up to 2028 and protection for countries outside the eurozone, telling MPs that the UK was "better off fighting from the inside".
He dismissed talk of a second referendum on the terms of withdrawal if the British people voted to leave in four months time, saying it was "not on the ballot paper".He dismissed talk of a second referendum on the terms of withdrawal if the British people voted to leave in four months time, saying it was "not on the ballot paper".
In such a scenario, he said Article 50 of existing EU treaties - the mechanism by which a country could leave the EU - would be triggered straight away and the process of separation would be difficult to reverse. If negotiations were not concluded within two years, he warned that many existing benefits of UK's membership would lapse automatically.In such a scenario, he said Article 50 of existing EU treaties - the mechanism by which a country could leave the EU - would be triggered straight away and the process of separation would be difficult to reverse. If negotiations were not concluded within two years, he warned that many existing benefits of UK's membership would lapse automatically.
He also challenged those backing EU exit to set out their vision for the future of the country.He also challenged those backing EU exit to set out their vision for the future of the country.
"I recognise there are disadvantages of being in the EU but I can look the British people in the eye and say this is what it is going to be like if we stay in," he said. "The people who are advising us to leave have got to spell out what the consequences of leaving are.""I recognise there are disadvantages of being in the EU but I can look the British people in the eye and say this is what it is going to be like if we stay in," he said. "The people who are advising us to leave have got to spell out what the consequences of leaving are."
But Boris Johnson, who on Sunday backed leaving the EU, challenged the PM to say how the deal that Mr Cameron negotiated would "in any field" return sovereignty to the UK.
The statement is the first opportunity Tory MPs have had to question the PM since Friday's agreement and publicly set out their position ahead of the poll in four months time.The statement is the first opportunity Tory MPs have had to question the PM since Friday's agreement and publicly set out their position ahead of the poll in four months time.
The PM's security message was echoed earlier by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, who told Radio 4's Today that the UK benefited from being part of international partnerships, such as the European Union, Nato and the United Nations. A succession of Tory MPs questioned the substance of the PM's agreement, suggesting it would do nothing to remedy the unfairness of the Common Agricultural Policy, reduce levels of EU immigration and address the power of European courts.
He rejected claims by former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith, one of six Cabinet ministers campaigning for the UK to leave the EU, that the UK's membership actually exposed it to greater security risks, pointing out that the EU had taken the lead in confronting Russia over its annexation of Crimea and Iran over its nuclear programme. 'Sideshow'
"At the moment our defence and security rests on Nato, not on the EU, but the EU adds to that security... the EU can do things that Nato cannot." For Labour, Jeremy Corbyn said he was glad the "theatrical sideshow" of Mr Cameron's negotiation was over and Labour could make a "real" argument for the benefits of EU membership while former SNP leader Alex Salmond urged him to make a "more positive case" for EU membership.
Earlier on Monday, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, rejected claims that the UK's membership actually exposed it to greater security risks, pointing out that the EU had taken the lead in confronting Russia over its annexation of Crimea and Iran over its nuclear programme.
"It is through the EU that you exchange criminal records and passenger records and work together on counter-terrorism...We need the collective weight of the EU when you are dealing with Russian aggression or terrorism. You need to be part of these big partnerships.""It is through the EU that you exchange criminal records and passenger records and work together on counter-terrorism...We need the collective weight of the EU when you are dealing with Russian aggression or terrorism. You need to be part of these big partnerships."
While he was not saying the UK could not survive outside the EU, he said it would be up to the British people to decide whether "we are safer and stronger inside the EU or take what is a big gamble and leave to what is a rather uncertain future".While he was not saying the UK could not survive outside the EU, he said it would be up to the British people to decide whether "we are safer and stronger inside the EU or take what is a big gamble and leave to what is a rather uncertain future".
Asked about Mr Johnson's decision, Mr Fallon said the PM would have preferred "more support" from the Mayor of London but that his was one "individual view" and the overwhelming majority of the Cabinet back Mr Cameron's position.Asked about Mr Johnson's decision, Mr Fallon said the PM would have preferred "more support" from the Mayor of London but that his was one "individual view" and the overwhelming majority of the Cabinet back Mr Cameron's position.
Leaving his home in north London, Mr Johnson said his immediate focus was his remaining time in City Hall and there would be plenty of time to discuss the issue of Europe, and the UK's "great future" outside it, over the next four months.
Mr Johnson, who is also Conservative MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, has said the referendum was a "once-in-a-lifetime chance" for voters.
In a 2,000-word column for the Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson said staying inside the union would lead to "an erosion of democracy".
'Be brave''Be brave'
"There is only one way to get the change we need - and that is to vote to go; because all EU history shows that they only really listen to a population when it says no," he wrote. Explaining his decision to back EU exit in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson wrote: "There is only one way to get the change we need - and that is to vote to go; because all EU history shows that they only really listen to a population when it says no," he wrote.
He added: "This is a moment to be brave, to reach out - not to hug the skirts of Nurse in Brussels, and refer all decisions to someone else.He added: "This is a moment to be brave, to reach out - not to hug the skirts of Nurse in Brussels, and refer all decisions to someone else.
"This is the only opportunity we will ever have to show that we care about self-rule."This is the only opportunity we will ever have to show that we care about self-rule.
"A vote to remain will be taken in Brussels as a green light for more federalism, and for the erosion of democracy." Cameron to face MPs on EU referendum "A vote to remain will be taken in Brussels as a green light for more federalism, and for the erosion of democracy."
Several other senior Tories - including Justice Secretary Michael Gove - have already said they will join the Out campaign.Several other senior Tories - including Justice Secretary Michael Gove - have already said they will join the Out campaign.
Mr Johnson said one of his reasons for supporting the Out campaign was his concern about the erosion of British sovereignty.Mr Johnson said one of his reasons for supporting the Out campaign was his concern about the erosion of British sovereignty.
However, his father, Stanley Johnson, told BBC Radio 5 live he disagreed with his son's argument.However, his father, Stanley Johnson, told BBC Radio 5 live he disagreed with his son's argument.
He denied Mr Johnson's decision had been a "career move", saying he had "completely thrown away" any chance of a post inside Mr Cameron's cabinet by aligning himself against the prime minister.He denied Mr Johnson's decision had been a "career move", saying he had "completely thrown away" any chance of a post inside Mr Cameron's cabinet by aligning himself against the prime minister.
The prime minister announced the date of the in/out referendum outside Number 10 on Saturday, having returned from agreeing a deal in Brussels that he argued gave the UK a "special status" within the EU.
The agreement - which will take effect immediately if the UK votes to remain in the EU - includes changes to migrant welfare payments, safeguards for Britain's financial services and making it easier to block unwanted EU regulations.