Cameron willing to consider EU referendum

David Cameron has told the euro-sceptics that he will consider the EU referendum, but only when the time is right.

The Prime Minister has been under constant pressure from Tory backbenchers to go ahead with the referendum on Britain’s relationship with the European Union.

The move comes as former Defence Secretary Liam Fox prepares to tell Tory activists that Britain would be better off without the EU. According to the Sunday Telegraph, Dr Fox will tell activists tomorrow: “For my own part, life outside the EU holds no terror. We have not moved the goalposts. But they have been moved nevertheless. We must respond now.”

At the Brussels summit last week, EU leaders took the first step towards rescue plans agreeing to use the permanent bailout fund to support ailing European banks.

At a press conference following the summit, Cameron dismissed the possibility of straight “in or out” referendum on Britain’s EU membership saying it was not the right thing to do.

However, he voiced a supportive opinion in an article for the Sunday Telegraph stating that a referendum might well be necessary.

Despite agreeing that a referendum might be necessary, he was still reluctant about the idea highlighting both the pros and cons of the country’s participation in the EU.

“The single market is at the heart of the case for staying in the EU. But it also makes sense to co-operate with our neighbours to maximise our influence in the world and project our values of freedom and democracy.

“Here Britain makes the running in the EU, so I don’t agree with those who say we should leave and therefore want the earliest possible in/out referendum. Leaving would not be in the country’s best interests.

“An ‘in’ vote too would have profound disadvantages. All further attempts at changing Britain’s relationship with Europe would be met with cries that the British people had already spoken.”

Rajeeb Gurung