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David Cameron says UK should 'ask for change on Europe' | David Cameron says UK should 'ask for change on Europe' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Britain is "perfectly entitled" to ask for a change in its relationship with Europe, Prime Minister David Cameron has said. | Britain is "perfectly entitled" to ask for a change in its relationship with Europe, Prime Minister David Cameron has said. |
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, he said voters would be offered "real choice" on this at the next election. | Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, he said voters would be offered "real choice" on this at the next election. |
But he said being entirely outside the EU would not be "right for Britain". | But he said being entirely outside the EU would not be "right for Britain". |
Mr Cameron is due to make a long-awaited speech on Europe later this month. Many Tory MPs are urging a referendum. | Mr Cameron is due to make a long-awaited speech on Europe later this month. Many Tory MPs are urging a referendum. |
The prime minister said any vote would happen within five years. | The prime minister said any vote would happen within five years. |
Currency considerations | |
"People should be in no doubt that the Conservatives will be offering at the next election a real choice and a real way of giving consent to that choice," he said. | "People should be in no doubt that the Conservatives will be offering at the next election a real choice and a real way of giving consent to that choice," he said. |
"What's happening in Europe right now is massive change being driven by the existence of the euro. | "What's happening in Europe right now is massive change being driven by the existence of the euro. |
"The countries of the euro, they've got to change to make their currency work - the need to integrate more, they need to make changes to all their systems more." | "The countries of the euro, they've got to change to make their currency work - the need to integrate more, they need to make changes to all their systems more." |
He continued: "What that means is they are changing the nature of the organisation to which we belong. | He continued: "What that means is they are changing the nature of the organisation to which we belong. |
"And so we are perfectly entitled, and not just entitled but actually enabled because they need changes to ask for changes ourselves." | "And so we are perfectly entitled, and not just entitled but actually enabled because they need changes to ask for changes ourselves." |
As part of a series of EU reforms partially aimed at protecting the euro, the European Central Bank will be directly supervising around 200 of the largest European banks from 2014 - but will have the right to intervene if smaller lenders are in trouble. | As part of a series of EU reforms partially aimed at protecting the euro, the European Central Bank will be directly supervising around 200 of the largest European banks from 2014 - but will have the right to intervene if smaller lenders are in trouble. |
With regards to the repatriation of some powers back to Britain, Mr Cameron said the government was already reviewing this. | With regards to the repatriation of some powers back to Britain, Mr Cameron said the government was already reviewing this. |
"As you [EU members] need to make your changes, there are changes that Britain would like to make too." | "As you [EU members] need to make your changes, there are changes that Britain would like to make too." |
He said people had said it was never possible to make changes to Britain's relationship with Europe, but he has already done this. | |
Immigration control | |
Mr Cameron was asked if the free movement of people inside Europe could be limited in order to give Britain more control of its borders and as part of a renegotiated relationship. | Mr Cameron was asked if the free movement of people inside Europe could be limited in order to give Britain more control of its borders and as part of a renegotiated relationship. |
The prime minister said a key reason to be a European Union member were freedoms, such as the movement of services, goods and people and there were already restrictions in place. | |
"Should we look at the arguments about should it be harder for people to come and live in Britain and claim benefits... frankly we should." | |
Mr Cameron also highlighted fishing quotas as an area of concern. | Mr Cameron also highlighted fishing quotas as an area of concern. |
He also said he did not think it would be "right for Britain" - or in the "national interest" - to leave the EU entirely, pointing out some 50% of nation's trade was with the EU. | |
The UK would have "no say over the rules of the market into which we sell" if it left, he added. | The UK would have "no say over the rules of the market into which we sell" if it left, he added. |
In the wide-ranging interview, Mr Cameron made a number of points, including: | In the wide-ranging interview, Mr Cameron made a number of points, including: |
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When asked by Andrew Marr if a decision over Europe would have to wait "five years or possibly 10" while negotiations with the EU were completed, Mr Cameron replied: "No, no, that's not going to happen." | When asked by Andrew Marr if a decision over Europe would have to wait "five years or possibly 10" while negotiations with the EU were completed, Mr Cameron replied: "No, no, that's not going to happen." |
'Pretty odd people' | 'Pretty odd people' |
During the interview, Mr Cameron was also asked about his previous description of UK Independence Party members as "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists". | During the interview, Mr Cameron was also asked about his previous description of UK Independence Party members as "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists". |
He said there were "some pretty odd people" in the party. | He said there were "some pretty odd people" in the party. |
Ukip's leader Nigel Farage later told Sky News the prime minister's comments revealed "how disconnected he is". | Ukip's leader Nigel Farage later told Sky News the prime minister's comments revealed "how disconnected he is". |
He added there was little prospect of any deal with the Conservative Party "while that man leads it," but conceded he would "do a deal with the devil if it got us what we need, which is a free and fair referendum so that we in this country can decide who governs us". | He added there was little prospect of any deal with the Conservative Party "while that man leads it," but conceded he would "do a deal with the devil if it got us what we need, which is a free and fair referendum so that we in this country can decide who governs us". |