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| Boris Johnson backs EU referendum freedom for ministers | Boris Johnson backs EU referendum freedom for ministers |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ministers should be allowed to campaign to leave the EU in the upcoming referendum, Boris Johnson has said. | Ministers should be allowed to campaign to leave the EU in the upcoming referendum, Boris Johnson has said. |
| The London mayor said it would be "safer and more harmonious" for David Cameron to give ministers free rein. | The London mayor said it would be "safer and more harmonious" for David Cameron to give ministers free rein. |
| His comments come amid Conservative tensions over whether ministers would lose their jobs if they campaign for an exit, against the PM's recommendation. | His comments come amid Conservative tensions over whether ministers would lose their jobs if they campaign for an exit, against the PM's recommendation. |
| MPs are to debate the legislation paving the way for an in/out EU referendum for the first time later. | MPs are to debate the legislation paving the way for an in/out EU referendum for the first time later. |
| The EU Referendum Bill is expected to pass comfortably at second reading, its first legislative hurdle in Parliament. | The EU Referendum Bill is expected to pass comfortably at second reading, its first legislative hurdle in Parliament. |
| Mr Johnson's comments came on the day David Cameron faced headlines accusing him of a U-turn on the issue after he claimed his comments suggesting ministers would have to back him on the EU vote or quit, were "misinterpreted". | Mr Johnson's comments came on the day David Cameron faced headlines accusing him of a U-turn on the issue after he claimed his comments suggesting ministers would have to back him on the EU vote or quit, were "misinterpreted". |
| He was forced to clarify his position after a number of former ministers expressed concerns that colleagues would have to leave the government if they wanted to make the case for leaving the EU during the forthcoming referendum. | He was forced to clarify his position after a number of former ministers expressed concerns that colleagues would have to leave the government if they wanted to make the case for leaving the EU during the forthcoming referendum. |
| 'Make your minds up' | 'Make your minds up' |
| Asked for his thoughts during his weekly phone-in on LBC radio, Boris Johnson initially said it was a matter for the PM and the government to decide. | Asked for his thoughts during his weekly phone-in on LBC radio, Boris Johnson initially said it was a matter for the PM and the government to decide. |
| But when pressed further to say if ministers should be allowed to campaign for a British exit against the PM's recommendation, he said: "I don't see why not." | But when pressed further to say if ministers should be allowed to campaign for a British exit against the PM's recommendation, he said: "I don't see why not." |
| This "seemed to work" during the 1975 EU referendum, when cabinet ministers were able to campaign on conscience rather than party line, he said. | This "seemed to work" during the 1975 EU referendum, when cabinet ministers were able to campaign on conscience rather than party line, he said. |
| Mr Johnson said: "Just thinking about it out loud I think it would probably be safer and more harmonious just to say [to ministers] 'OK, make your minds up'. | Mr Johnson said: "Just thinking about it out loud I think it would probably be safer and more harmonious just to say [to ministers] 'OK, make your minds up'. |
| "On something like this do you really need to bind everyone in?" | "On something like this do you really need to bind everyone in?" |
| The Uxbridge and Ruislip MP added that he thought David Cameron would have support from the "overwhelming majority" of Conservative colleagues if he secured the EU reforms he is after. | The Uxbridge and Ruislip MP added that he thought David Cameron would have support from the "overwhelming majority" of Conservative colleagues if he secured the EU reforms he is after. |
| But he also restated that the UK should be prepared to walk away from the European Union if sufficient change could not be achieved. | |
| At defence questions in the Commons on Tuesday, shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn said the PM had created "utter confusion" with his comments. | |
| He asked his government counterpart, Philip Hammond, for clarity on the principle of collective responsibility when it comes to the EU referendum. | |
| Mr Hammond said all ministers were signed up to the government's renegotiation strategy but told MPs it would be "simply hypothetical" to talk about who could do what until the outcome of EU talks have concluded. | |
| 'Vote by 2017' | 'Vote by 2017' |
| Mr Cameron's plan is to renegotiate the UK's relationship with the EU ahead of an in/out vote by the end of 2017. | Mr Cameron's plan is to renegotiate the UK's relationship with the EU ahead of an in/out vote by the end of 2017. |
| He says he is confident of securing the changes he wants so he can push for a Yes vote to stay in Europe, but says he "rules nothing out" if his demands to EU leaders on issues such as immigration, welfare, national sovereignty and further integration are rejected. | He says he is confident of securing the changes he wants so he can push for a Yes vote to stay in Europe, but says he "rules nothing out" if his demands to EU leaders on issues such as immigration, welfare, national sovereignty and further integration are rejected. |
| The legislation required to authorise the referendum will be debated for the first time in the Commons on Tuesday, when MPs will debate the general principles of the EU Referendum Bill. | The legislation required to authorise the referendum will be debated for the first time in the Commons on Tuesday, when MPs will debate the general principles of the EU Referendum Bill. |
| The bill states that a referendum will take place by the end of 2017, with voters being asked "Should the UK remain a member of the European Union?". | The bill states that a referendum will take place by the end of 2017, with voters being asked "Should the UK remain a member of the European Union?". |
| EU referendum in focus | EU referendum in focus |
| David Cameron is starting renegotiation of the terms of Britain's EU membership ahead of a referendum. Here is some further reading on what it all means: | David Cameron is starting renegotiation of the terms of Britain's EU membership ahead of a referendum. Here is some further reading on what it all means: |
| Q&A: The UK's planned EU referendum | Q&A: The UK's planned EU referendum |
| UK and the EU: Better off out or in? | UK and the EU: Better off out or in? |
| What Britain wants from Europe | What Britain wants from Europe |
| Timeline: EU referendum debate | Timeline: EU referendum debate |
| In quotes: What PM said on EU vote | In quotes: What PM said on EU vote |
| It proposes staging the referendum on the same electoral franchise as UK general elections, although peers and Commonwealth citizens living in Gibraltar would also be permitted to vote. | It proposes staging the referendum on the same electoral franchise as UK general elections, although peers and Commonwealth citizens living in Gibraltar would also be permitted to vote. |
| The bill is expected to pass its first parliamentary test easily, with near unanimous support within the Conservatives for the referendum. | The bill is expected to pass its first parliamentary test easily, with near unanimous support within the Conservatives for the referendum. |
| Opposition tactics | Opposition tactics |
| Labour, which previously opposed a referendum, said recently it would back the bill although it - and the Lib Dems - are expected to try to make changes to the legislation, including extending the vote to 16 and 17 year-olds. | Labour, which previously opposed a referendum, said recently it would back the bill although it - and the Lib Dems - are expected to try to make changes to the legislation, including extending the vote to 16 and 17 year-olds. |
| Lib Dem peer Lord Steel, who was part of the Yes campaign in the 1975 EU referendum, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that if the change could not be achieved in the Commons it "certainly will" in the House of Lords - where the Conservatives do not have a majority. | Lib Dem peer Lord Steel, who was part of the Yes campaign in the 1975 EU referendum, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that if the change could not be achieved in the Commons it "certainly will" in the House of Lords - where the Conservatives do not have a majority. |
| The SNP opposes the bill because it does not include a "double majority" which would ensure that Britain could only exit the EU if all four nations voted in favour. | The SNP opposes the bill because it does not include a "double majority" which would ensure that Britain could only exit the EU if all four nations voted in favour. |
| The nationalists are also aggrieved that 16 and 17-year-olds will not be allowed to vote in the poll, and they do not want the date of the referendum to coincide with Scottish, Welsh or Northern Ireland elections. | The nationalists are also aggrieved that 16 and 17-year-olds will not be allowed to vote in the poll, and they do not want the date of the referendum to coincide with Scottish, Welsh or Northern Ireland elections. |
| The SNP has tabled an amendment - supported by two smaller opposition parties - declining to give the bill a second reading. It will be up to the Speaker to decide whether to select it for debate. | The SNP has tabled an amendment - supported by two smaller opposition parties - declining to give the bill a second reading. It will be up to the Speaker to decide whether to select it for debate. |
| The legislation must be approved by both the Commons and the Lords, which is regarded as a virtual certainty after the Conservatives' election victory. But the speed with which it moves through Parliament could be a factor in influencing when the vote is held. | The legislation must be approved by both the Commons and the Lords, which is regarded as a virtual certainty after the Conservatives' election victory. But the speed with which it moves through Parliament could be a factor in influencing when the vote is held. |
| Mr Cameron has said he would like to hold it earlier than the end of 2017 and some within the party are pushing for a referendum as early as May 2016 - on the same day as elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly - although others oppose this. | Mr Cameron has said he would like to hold it earlier than the end of 2017 and some within the party are pushing for a referendum as early as May 2016 - on the same day as elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly - although others oppose this. |
| Conservative backbench MPs will be allowed to campaign as they wish, but questions have been raised over whether Eurosceptic government ministers would be forced to support the government line. | Conservative backbench MPs will be allowed to campaign as they wish, but questions have been raised over whether Eurosceptic government ministers would be forced to support the government line. |
| 'Frustrating' | 'Frustrating' |
| On Sunday night, the prime minister told journalists at the G7 summit in Germany: "If you want to be part of the government you have to take the view that we are engaged in an exercise of renegotiation to have a referendum and that will lead to a successful outcome." | On Sunday night, the prime minister told journalists at the G7 summit in Germany: "If you want to be part of the government you have to take the view that we are engaged in an exercise of renegotiation to have a referendum and that will lead to a successful outcome." |
| He added: "Everyone in government has signed up to the programme set out in the Conservative manifesto." | He added: "Everyone in government has signed up to the programme set out in the Conservative manifesto." |
| That led to Monday's newspapers carrying headlines such as "Cabinet told: Vote for Europe or resign" and prompted ex-minister David Davis to call it a "rather unwise move". | That led to Monday's newspapers carrying headlines such as "Cabinet told: Vote for Europe or resign" and prompted ex-minister David Davis to call it a "rather unwise move". |
| No 10 sought to clarify Mr Cameron's words and later, in a news conference, the PM said "it's clear to me that what I said yesterday was misinterpreted", insisting that he had "clearly" been referring to his EU negotiations and not the referendum. | No 10 sought to clarify Mr Cameron's words and later, in a news conference, the PM said "it's clear to me that what I said yesterday was misinterpreted", insisting that he had "clearly" been referring to his EU negotiations and not the referendum. |
| Former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell told BBC Two's Newsnight said there was no reason for his party to go "off piste" over the issue. | Former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell told BBC Two's Newsnight said there was no reason for his party to go "off piste" over the issue. |
| He said the prime minister should be given "clear water" to carry out the negotiation and while collective responsibility must be upheld during that time, the actual referendum was about a major constitutional issue not government policy. | He said the prime minister should be given "clear water" to carry out the negotiation and while collective responsibility must be upheld during that time, the actual referendum was about a major constitutional issue not government policy. |
| "This is very fissile material for the Conservative Party but there is a very sensible roadmap along which most people can camp. | "This is very fissile material for the Conservative Party but there is a very sensible roadmap along which most people can camp. |
| "Let people follow their convictions on an issue which is very fissile and difficult for the Conservatives." | "Let people follow their convictions on an issue which is very fissile and difficult for the Conservatives." |
| Ahead of the debate, an influential think tank which campaigns for reform within the EU called for 11 major changes to make the 28-member body more flexible and competitive. | Ahead of the debate, an influential think tank which campaigns for reform within the EU called for 11 major changes to make the 28-member body more flexible and competitive. |
| Open Europe says national parliaments should be able to block EU legislation through a "red card" system, restrict access to welfare to established residents, overhaul the EU budget and return control of justice and home affairs to member states. | Open Europe says national parliaments should be able to block EU legislation through a "red card" system, restrict access to welfare to established residents, overhaul the EU budget and return control of justice and home affairs to member states. |