It can solve this one too.
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“Let us therefore resolve to do so”.
Claiming that his reform package was not “mission impossible”, the Prime Minister also categorically ruled out a second referendum on Britain’s European Union membership, whichever way Britons vote.
Economists are cynical about Cameron’s timeframe for reforms, however, saying that it is unfeasible that he could see his demands met by Europe ahead of a potential referendum in six months’ time.
The prime minister insists he wants Britain to stay in a reformed EU.
“I can tell you today that as part of our renegotiation, I’m asking European leaders for a clear, legally binding and irreversible agreement to end Britain’s obligation to work for an ever closer union”, Cameron said.
He made clear that allies such as President Barack Obama had warned that the United Kingdom would be more secure inside the European Union bloc.
On migration, he said he proposed that people coming to Britain from the European Union must live in the country for four years before qualifying for in work benefits or social housing, and that the practice of sending child benefit overseas should stop. “We don’t believe in it. We do not subscribe to it. We have a different vision for Europe”.
Even if he wins support for his reforms in Brussels he will face patches of stubborn resistance at home among Eurosceptics, including a few in his Conservative party, which has been divided over the European Union for decades.
“I have thought very carefully about what is needed to fix those problems, and I have come up with a carefully-designed package to do so”. I don’t want this reasonable approach to be misunderstood.
“I understand, of course that every negotiation must involve just that – negotiation”. We have got the fifth biggest economy in the world … Along with France, we are its foremost military power. No pretending Britain couldn’t survive outside the EU.
The Prime Minister will insist he has a track record of achieving change in Brussels, including cutting the EU’s budget, exempting Britain from the bail-out scheme and using the UK’s veto to protect the country’s national interest.
Echoing language adopted by Boris Johnson, the prime minister said: “Today I also want to debunk an argument that is sometimes put around by those who say stay in Europe come what may”.
Cameron was making a speech to the CBI annual conference in London yesterday when he was interrupted by students from the anti-EU campaign group Britain Affiliated, who were assisted by the Vote Leave campaign.
British finance chief George Osborne says the British government’s proposals will benefit everyone in the EU.
Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell, meanwhile, has dismissed the PM’s position on the European Union as “a lot of bluff and bluster” and more about “appeasing” a few of his Eurosceptic backbenchers. “Voters don’t simply want in-work benefits curbed for migrants, they want fewer migrants and that’s the awkward reality for David Cameron”, said Matthew Goodwin, a politics professor at University of Kent.
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Then, between now and a summit of EU leaders in December, Mr Cameron will hold more talks with European leaders, starting at a migration summit in Malta the day after his speech, to try to persuade them to back him.
