This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.guardian.co.uk/politics/wintour-and-watt/2013/may/07/eu-davidcameron

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
David Cameron unleashes unexpected forces as Nigel Lawson calls for EU exit David Cameron unleashes unexpected forces as Nigel Lawson calls for EU exit
(5 months later)
David Cameron is probably the cleverest prime minister since Harold Wilson, the last holder of the post to offer the British people a referendum on Britain's membership of what was then called the EEC.David Cameron is probably the cleverest prime minister since Harold Wilson, the last holder of the post to offer the British people a referendum on Britain's membership of what was then called the EEC.
Cameron's complete confidence in his intellectual abilities explains why he is, in a technical sense, a highly skilled prime minister. Ministers from both sides of the coalition say, for example, that he chairs meetings – notably the National Security Council – with great skill.Cameron's complete confidence in his intellectual abilities explains why he is, in a technical sense, a highly skilled prime minister. Ministers from both sides of the coalition say, for example, that he chairs meetings – notably the National Security Council – with great skill.
But, as ever, with people blessed with supreme self confidence Cameron often overestimates his abilities. The call by the former chancellor Lord Lawson of Blaby in the Times for Britain to leave the EU highlights in three ways how this over confidence has now landed the prime minister in some difficulty. Cameron:But, as ever, with people blessed with supreme self confidence Cameron often overestimates his abilities. The call by the former chancellor Lord Lawson of Blaby in the Times for Britain to leave the EU highlights in three ways how this over confidence has now landed the prime minister in some difficulty. Cameron:
• Had thought that by pledging to hold an in / out referendum on Britain's membership of the EU by 2017 he would undermine at a stroke UKIP's central selling point. The opposite has happened because support for UKIP is driven by a distaste for the political class as a whole – a point Cameron would have understood had he listened to Lord Ashcroft who has carried out in depth polling into the appeal of UKIP.• Had thought that by pledging to hold an in / out referendum on Britain's membership of the EU by 2017 he would undermine at a stroke UKIP's central selling point. The opposite has happened because support for UKIP is driven by a distaste for the political class as a whole – a point Cameron would have understood had he listened to Lord Ashcroft who has carried out in depth polling into the appeal of UKIP.
• Has unleashed a force he had not anticipated. This is a mainstream and highly respected Conservative calling for Britain to leave the EU – the opposite of the prime minister's strategy which is, he says, designed to keep Britain in a reformed EU. Cameron will have to act with great care if he decides to challenge Lawson because George Osborne consulted him extensively as he prepared to become chancellor.• Has unleashed a force he had not anticipated. This is a mainstream and highly respected Conservative calling for Britain to leave the EU – the opposite of the prime minister's strategy which is, he says, designed to keep Britain in a reformed EU. Cameron will have to act with great care if he decides to challenge Lawson because George Osborne consulted him extensively as he prepared to become chancellor.
• Is giving one impression to his backbenchers on Europe and another to fellow EU leaders. Eurosceptic backbenchers are being told that the prime minister's strategy is designed to rewrite the terms of Britain's EU membership. But the prime minister told Angela Merkel in their recent meeting at the German equivalent of Chequers that his strategy is designed to introduce reforms for the EU as a whole. It is only if this is rejected that Cameron will press for specific arrangements for Britain. To reinforce his point Cameron has been pointing out that the words "repatriation of powers" did not appear in his Bloomberg speech in January.• Is giving one impression to his backbenchers on Europe and another to fellow EU leaders. Eurosceptic backbenchers are being told that the prime minister's strategy is designed to rewrite the terms of Britain's EU membership. But the prime minister told Angela Merkel in their recent meeting at the German equivalent of Chequers that his strategy is designed to introduce reforms for the EU as a whole. It is only if this is rejected that Cameron will press for specific arrangements for Britain. To reinforce his point Cameron has been pointing out that the words "repatriation of powers" did not appear in his Bloomberg speech in January.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.