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| PM’s EU deal is not legally binding, says Michael Gove | PM’s EU deal is not legally binding, says Michael Gove |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron’s deal with other EU member states could be challenged by the European court of justice, Michael Gove has said. | David Cameron’s deal with other EU member states could be challenged by the European court of justice, Michael Gove has said. |
| The justice secretary, who is one of six cabinet ministers campaigning to leave the EU, said Cameron’s changes do not have any legal status yet because they will not be written into European treaties until a later date. | |
| He said people should be aware that the ECJ stood above all nation states and could only interpret the law according to what is currently in the treaties. Downing Street has rebuffed Gove’s view, saying the ECJ has to take into account the deal, which will be embedded in treaties in the future. | He said people should be aware that the ECJ stood above all nation states and could only interpret the law according to what is currently in the treaties. Downing Street has rebuffed Gove’s view, saying the ECJ has to take into account the deal, which will be embedded in treaties in the future. |
| The split in opinion is the first between No 10 and Gove since he announced on Saturday that he would reject Cameron’s deal and campaign for the UK to leave the EU. | The split in opinion is the first between No 10 and Gove since he announced on Saturday that he would reject Cameron’s deal and campaign for the UK to leave the EU. |
| Gove’s wife, Sarah Vine, has written in the Daily Mail that he was tortured about choosing between his beliefs and loyalty to Cameron, who is an old friend and close political ally. | Gove’s wife, Sarah Vine, has written in the Daily Mail that he was tortured about choosing between his beliefs and loyalty to Cameron, who is an old friend and close political ally. |
| In his first interview since making his decision public, Gove told the BBC that because the changes are not incorporated into EU law yet, the court could “take a different view”. | In his first interview since making his decision public, Gove told the BBC that because the changes are not incorporated into EU law yet, the court could “take a different view”. |
| Related: Cameron smooths over rift with Boris Johnson as party tensions rise | Related: Cameron smooths over rift with Boris Johnson as party tensions rise |
| He rejected suggestions that the prime minister was being “misleading” when Cameron says the deal is legally binding. However, he clearly undermined the prime minister’s argument, saying: “There are two things which are true. The first thing is the prime minister is right: this is an agreement between 28 nations and all have agreed that they will abide by it. But above those nations sits the European court of justice.” | He rejected suggestions that the prime minister was being “misleading” when Cameron says the deal is legally binding. However, he clearly undermined the prime minister’s argument, saying: “There are two things which are true. The first thing is the prime minister is right: this is an agreement between 28 nations and all have agreed that they will abide by it. But above those nations sits the European court of justice.” |
| Gove’s interview comes as the in campaign released its latest coordinated letter to the Telegraph warning that leaving the EU was a threat to national security. The signatories were 13 former admirals, generals and air chief marshals, following on from a letter of 36 FTSE 100 chiefs and other business leaders. | Gove’s interview comes as the in campaign released its latest coordinated letter to the Telegraph warning that leaving the EU was a threat to national security. The signatories were 13 former admirals, generals and air chief marshals, following on from a letter of 36 FTSE 100 chiefs and other business leaders. |
| The former military chiefs, including Field Marshal Lord Bramall, and former deputy Nato commander General Sir Richard Shirreff, said: “We are proud to have served our country, and to have played our part in keeping Britain safe... In the forthcoming referendum, therefore, we are particularly concerned with one central question: will Britain be safer inside the EU or outside it? When we look at the world today, there seems to us only one answer.” | The former military chiefs, including Field Marshal Lord Bramall, and former deputy Nato commander General Sir Richard Shirreff, said: “We are proud to have served our country, and to have played our part in keeping Britain safe... In the forthcoming referendum, therefore, we are particularly concerned with one central question: will Britain be safer inside the EU or outside it? When we look at the world today, there seems to us only one answer.” |