Uncertainty reigns in Britain on Monday as the mayor of London Boris Johnson announced he would be campaigning for Britain to leave the European Union, adding to fears of a so-called “Brexit”.
Advertisement
“Leaving Europe would threaten our economic and our national security”, Mr Cameron said in a report to parliament after dozens of MPs from his own Conservative party said they will vote for Brexit, including London mayor Boris Johnson.
Aiming at his Tory rival, Johnson, and his idea of a second referendum, Cameron said: “I won’t dwell on the irony that some people who want to leave want to use a leave vote to remain”.
What’s at stake in the referendum?
Cameron has set a referendum on Britain’s continued membership in the European Union for June 23.
The Tory infighting over Europe has proved a welcome distraction for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who described Mr Cameron’s renegotiation as “a theatrical sideshow about trying to appease, or failing to appease, half of the Prime Minister’s own Conservative party”.
“I am not standing for re-election, I have no other agenda than what is best for our country”, Cameron told a packed parliament.
Two major casualties of 2015’s general election campaign – former Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg and former Labor Party leader Ed Miliband – also stood to voice their support for the stay campaign.
He tried to quell doubts about remaining in the European Union among many of his Conservative lawmakers, saying that leaving would be “a great leap into the unknown” that could harm Britain’s economy and security.
Both sides in the debate argue Britain would be financially better off if their cause succeeds. “In the mayor of London, the Brexit camp has a charismatic and popular front man who can convince the doubters”, it said.
But it was clear that the euro was also suffering, falling to a three-week low of $1.1016 EUR= and on track for its biggest one-day fall in three months.
Sources close to Mr Johnson – who has effectively put himself at the head of the Leave campaign by announcing his support – confirmed he is due to attend today’s Commons statement by the Prime Minister and will seek to ask a question.
To be fair, Johnson is a politician and, as such, always seeks advantage.
His decision to lobby against Cameron was welcomed by leaders of the “leave” campaign, which has been dogged by splits between factions and lacked a uniting political figure to spread its message that Britain needs to regain its sovereignty. “He is a superb campaigner so he’s a great asset”.
Betting odds of a British exit rose to a 33 per cent chance from about 29 per cent, according to bookmakers.
He said if British voters chose to leave it will be a final decision. “Putin’s aggression in the East, Islamist extremism to the South in my view this is no time to divide the West”, he said.
The June vote will come as the European Union struggles to cope with a sustained immigration crisis that previous year brought more than 1 million people fleeing war and poverty to its shores.
Cameron also said that by remaining in the EU, Britain could continue to protect their values while exercising power and influence in the world.
Advertisement
Pro-Europeans, including former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and John Major, have warned that an exit could also trigger the break-up of the United Kingdom by prompting another Scottish independence vote.
