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#brexit EU referendum: David Cameron 'hopeful' of February deal

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20150107CameronMerkelDavid Cameron says he is "hopeful" of reaching a deal with European leaders in February that will allow him to hold the UK's EU referendum.

The prime minister said the in-out vote "would follow" if agreement was reached on his reforms at next month's summit.

He also said he would stay on as PM even if he ended up on the losing side.

He told Andrew Marr he did not think a UK exit was "the right answer" but promised "everything necessary to make it work" if there was a vote to leave.

The in-out referendum has been promised by the end of 2017.

Asked whether he was suggesting the referendum could be held this summer, Mr Cameron said: "That is what I would like to see, is a deal in February, then a referendum that would follow".

It would take place "later" if no agreement was reached, he said.

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Mr Cameron reiterated his desire to campaign for the UK to remain in a reformed EU, but said he would rule nothing out if his demands were refused.

Welfare freeze

On the question of whether he would stay on as PM if he ended up on the losing side, he said: "The answer to that question is yes."

He said his priority was to hold a referendum and to "abide by what the British public say".

The question put to voters would be whether to stay in or leave the EU, he said, not "this politician's future or that politician's future".

One of his key proposals - a four-year freeze on in-work benefits for EU migrants - has met with stern opposition from his European counterparts, but Mr Cameron said it was still on the table until an "equally powerful and meaningful" alternative was proposed.

Asked whether the measure could be extended to UK nationals to overcome the opposition, he replied: "When I have got an announcement to make I will make it."

David Cameron's four main aims for renegotiation

  • Economic governance: Securing an explicit recognition that the euro is not the only currency of the European Union, to ensure countries outside the eurozone are not disadvantaged. The UK wants safeguards that it will not have to contribute to eurozone bailouts
  • Competitiveness: Setting a target for the reduction of the "burden" of excessive regulation and extending the single market
  • Immigration: Restricting access to in-work and out-of-work benefits to EU migrants. Specifically, ministers want to stop those coming to the UK from claiming certain benefits until they have been resident for four years.
  • Sovereignty: Allowing Britain to opt out from further political integration. Giving greater powers to national parliaments to block EU legislation.
  • EU referendum: Prime Minister's minute to ministers

 

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