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David Cameron may vote for amendment to his own Queen's speech David Cameron may vote for amendment to his own Queen's speech
(5 months later)
David Cameron could take the unprecedented step of supporting a vote in parliament to condemn his own government's Queen's speech for failing to include a bill advocating a referendum on EU membership, Downing Street confirmed on Friday.David Cameron could take the unprecedented step of supporting a vote in parliament to condemn his own government's Queen's speech for failing to include a bill advocating a referendum on EU membership, Downing Street confirmed on Friday.
The prime minister is "happy" to reinforce his commitment to holding a referendum on Britain's membership to the EU, including criticising the absence of legislation which would allow an in-out referendum, the prime minister's spokesman said.The prime minister is "happy" to reinforce his commitment to holding a referendum on Britain's membership to the EU, including criticising the absence of legislation which would allow an in-out referendum, the prime minister's spokesman said.
Labour claim that the move is evidence of the chaos within No 10 over Europe and is meant to appease an increasingly nervous parliamentary Tory party following the strong showing of the anti-EU UK Independence party in last week's local elections. Cameron is wandering into unchartered political waters by accepting, or even voting for, an amendment to a Queen's speech.Labour claim that the move is evidence of the chaos within No 10 over Europe and is meant to appease an increasingly nervous parliamentary Tory party following the strong showing of the anti-EU UK Independence party in last week's local elections. Cameron is wandering into unchartered political waters by accepting, or even voting for, an amendment to a Queen's speech.
The development came as Cameron faced further pressure on Europe on Friday after Boris Johnson said that withdrawal from Europe would not be "cataclysmic" for British jobs, as Europhiles claim.The development came as Cameron faced further pressure on Europe on Friday after Boris Johnson said that withdrawal from Europe would not be "cataclysmic" for British jobs, as Europhiles claim.
Johnson was speaking after Tory grandees like Lord Lawson and Michael Portillo advocated an EU withdrawal.Johnson was speaking after Tory grandees like Lord Lawson and Michael Portillo advocated an EU withdrawal.
But on Friday the prime minister's spokesman refused to rule out supporting the amendment.But on Friday the prime minister's spokesman refused to rule out supporting the amendment.
"The amendment's only recently been tabled, so the PM would want to carefully consider it."The amendment's only recently been tabled, so the PM would want to carefully consider it.
"The key point here is that he has always made it clear that he will look at all ways of strengthening his commitment to an in/out referendum in the next Parliament."The key point here is that he has always made it clear that he will look at all ways of strengthening his commitment to an in/out referendum in the next Parliament.
"He is happy to look at all ways of strengthening his commitment to an in/out referendum. I'm not going to speculate about what may happen on a vote that hasn't actually been called yet," he said."He is happy to look at all ways of strengthening his commitment to an in/out referendum. I'm not going to speculate about what may happen on a vote that hasn't actually been called yet," he said.
Asked if Cameron feared that the renewed debate about EU policy was undermining his authority, the spokesman said: "The PM welcomes the spotlight being put back on his commitment, because he has been absolutely clear that if he is the prime minister post-2015, he will ensure there is a referendum in 2017."Asked if Cameron feared that the renewed debate about EU policy was undermining his authority, the spokesman said: "The PM welcomes the spotlight being put back on his commitment, because he has been absolutely clear that if he is the prime minister post-2015, he will ensure there is a referendum in 2017."
The Downing Street spokesman declined to say today whether a whip would be imposed on Conservatives if the amendment is selected by Speaker John Bercow for a vote next Tuesday or Wednesday.The Downing Street spokesman declined to say today whether a whip would be imposed on Conservatives if the amendment is selected by Speaker John Bercow for a vote next Tuesday or Wednesday.
The prime minister is even considering voting for the change to the government's programme, the spokesman said, which has been tabled by Eurosceptic backbenchers Peter Bone and John Baron. But this is highly unlikely because Cameron is scheduled to be in the United States next week.The prime minister is even considering voting for the change to the government's programme, the spokesman said, which has been tabled by Eurosceptic backbenchers Peter Bone and John Baron. But this is highly unlikely because Cameron is scheduled to be in the United States next week.
Downing Street sources have stated that Cameron is "relaxed" about allowing senior Tory ministers to support the amendment.Downing Street sources have stated that Cameron is "relaxed" about allowing senior Tory ministers to support the amendment.
However, it would be unique for members of the Cabinet or even the prime minister to criticise the Queen's speech, which they are responsible for drawing up, in a Commons vote.However, it would be unique for members of the Cabinet or even the prime minister to criticise the Queen's speech, which they are responsible for drawing up, in a Commons vote.
Asked if Cameron feared that the renewed debate about EU policy was undermining his authority, the spokesman said: "The PM welcomes the spotlight being put back on his commitment, because he has been absolutely clear that if he is the Prime Minister post-2015, he will ensure there is a referendum in 2017."Asked if Cameron feared that the renewed debate about EU policy was undermining his authority, the spokesman said: "The PM welcomes the spotlight being put back on his commitment, because he has been absolutely clear that if he is the Prime Minister post-2015, he will ensure there is a referendum in 2017."
The rebel amendment was signed by 32 MPs, including 30 Conservatives and two from Labour - Kelvin Hopkins and John Cryer.The rebel amendment was signed by 32 MPs, including 30 Conservatives and two from Labour - Kelvin Hopkins and John Cryer.
Among those signing were former leadership challenger David Davis, ex-Cabinet ministers Cheryl Gillan and John Redwood and backbencher Adam Afriyie, who has been touted as a possible successor to Mr Cameron as leader.Among those signing were former leadership challenger David Davis, ex-Cabinet ministers Cheryl Gillan and John Redwood and backbencher Adam Afriyie, who has been touted as a possible successor to Mr Cameron as leader.
Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "My position is that I think the Prime Minister is completely right. What we need to do is to say to our friends and partners 'Listen chums, this thing isn't working for either of us. Your eurozone is causing all sorts of misery, plus the on-costs, the non-wage costs, of the way the EU has been running and has legislated and regulated over the last 20-30 years are making the whole area completely uncompetitive. We need a renegotiation. We need a look at the way the thing is managed'.Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "My position is that I think the Prime Minister is completely right. What we need to do is to say to our friends and partners 'Listen chums, this thing isn't working for either of us. Your eurozone is causing all sorts of misery, plus the on-costs, the non-wage costs, of the way the EU has been running and has legislated and regulated over the last 20-30 years are making the whole area completely uncompetitive. We need a renegotiation. We need a look at the way the thing is managed'.
"We should be prepared to pull out. That goes without saying. You can't go into a negotiation like that without being willing to walk away.""We should be prepared to pull out. That goes without saying. You can't go into a negotiation like that without being willing to walk away."
Johnson insisted that withdrawal would not be as damaging to the UK economy as pro-Europeans claim.Johnson insisted that withdrawal would not be as damaging to the UK economy as pro-Europeans claim.
"I don't think it would be anything like as cataclysmic as is being sometimes pretended," he said."I don't think it would be anything like as cataclysmic as is being sometimes pretended," he said.
"I don't think we would lose millions of jobs. I think the economic benefits and disbenefits are now much more balanced.""I don't think we would lose millions of jobs. I think the economic benefits and disbenefits are now much more balanced."
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