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| Is David Cameron's in-out referendum on Europe a step too far? | Is David Cameron's in-out referendum on Europe a step too far? |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| "It will be an in-out referendum". Cameron paused, stared at the camera and realised he'd made history. He took the plunge, but insisted an engaged, positive stance would secure the outcome that would allow Britain to stay inside the European Union. But he declined to set out the specific negotiating demands he will seek, apart from generalities about safeguards for the single market, flexibility and an end to an ever closer union. | "It will be an in-out referendum". Cameron paused, stared at the camera and realised he'd made history. He took the plunge, but insisted an engaged, positive stance would secure the outcome that would allow Britain to stay inside the European Union. But he declined to set out the specific negotiating demands he will seek, apart from generalities about safeguards for the single market, flexibility and an end to an ever closer union. |
| The prime minister promised to campaign "heart and soul" to stay in the EU if he achieves his new deal, but also declined to say that he would argue for a No vote if he has miscalculated and finds he is unable to secure the terms he wants from his EU partners. Asked to say that in these circumstances he would press for a British exit, he sidestepped the issue, saying "I would argue 'who goes into a negotiation expecting and hoping to fail'?' | The prime minister promised to campaign "heart and soul" to stay in the EU if he achieves his new deal, but also declined to say that he would argue for a No vote if he has miscalculated and finds he is unable to secure the terms he wants from his EU partners. Asked to say that in these circumstances he would press for a British exit, he sidestepped the issue, saying "I would argue 'who goes into a negotiation expecting and hoping to fail'?' |
| He added: "The choice will not be for the British politicians, it will be for the British people." | He added: "The choice will not be for the British politicians, it will be for the British people." |
| Cameron will receive an ecstatic response from his own backbenches and was within minutes receiving the praise of leading Eurosceptic Bill Cash. Yet Cash was also claiming Cameron may not be able to meet his goals, a sign that Eurosceptics will continue to agitate. | |
| Ed Miliband will claim this is about Cameron's party interest and not the national interest. But the Conservatives will hope that the Labour leader complaining about Cameron's motives for a referendum will seem trivial alongside the simple fact that he, unlike Labour, is offering the British people a say. Pollsters disagree on whether that offer will win him votes at the 2015 election. Most would say it is still, as ever, "the economy, stupid". | Ed Miliband will claim this is about Cameron's party interest and not the national interest. But the Conservatives will hope that the Labour leader complaining about Cameron's motives for a referendum will seem trivial alongside the simple fact that he, unlike Labour, is offering the British people a say. Pollsters disagree on whether that offer will win him votes at the 2015 election. Most would say it is still, as ever, "the economy, stupid". |
| Cameron will hope Miliband will be harried from now until the election on the issue, or even better that it will create a split inside the shadow cabinet. The issue has already led to difficult meetings with some warning Miliband cannot afford to be seen to be defending the EU's status quo. | Cameron will hope Miliband will be harried from now until the election on the issue, or even better that it will create a split inside the shadow cabinet. The issue has already led to difficult meetings with some warning Miliband cannot afford to be seen to be defending the EU's status quo. |
| Miliband will emphasise that Cameron has put a question mark over Britain's membership of the EU and in doing so has put a question mark in the minds of the overseas investors as they decide whether to place their company in the flexible low-tax UK, once the gateway to Europe, or in Europe itself. The French Socialists are already rolling out the red carpet for multinationals. | Miliband will emphasise that Cameron has put a question mark over Britain's membership of the EU and in doing so has put a question mark in the minds of the overseas investors as they decide whether to place their company in the flexible low-tax UK, once the gateway to Europe, or in Europe itself. The French Socialists are already rolling out the red carpet for multinationals. |
| The response of business, as well as Cameron's EU partners, will be critical. He will find out soon enough whether this risk-averse leader suddenly discovers he should not have acted out of character. | The response of business, as well as Cameron's EU partners, will be critical. He will find out soon enough whether this risk-averse leader suddenly discovers he should not have acted out of character. |