“David Cameron will call a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU today but will be opposed by Michael Gove, one of his closest friends and allies. The prime minister will call the poll, almost certainly for June 23, after a cabinet meeting at 10am that will split the Conservative party’s top team.” – The Times (£)
Comment:
“Watching him go, you had to wonder: why do the most important international summits so often last through the night? Why can’t they break off at a sociable hour, and come back refreshed in the morning? It seems unlikely that political judgement is sharpened by fatigue. In the words of Bill Clinton: “Most of the mistakes I made in my career, I made when I was too tired. You make better decisions when you’re not too tired.” – Michael Deacon’s sketch, Daily Telegraph
>Today:
>Yesterday:
“David Cameron gave his most impassioned defence of British EU membership on Friday night, as he confirmed that he would fight “heart and soul” to keep the UK in the 28-member bloc. After months of hinting that he could campaign for a Brexit if he did not get a good deal in Brussels, Mr Cameron confirmed that he would lead the fight for Britain to stay in “a reformed EU” in a referendum expected on June 23.” – FT
Supporters:
EU:
Editorials:
“Our breakaway would be a collapse for the whole. It would carry profound implications for more than the balance of power in the world: but for the battle of ideas and values, too: a battle which is turning critical, and for which the century ahead looks ever more likely to form the stage.With or without us the future of the European Union looks fragile. Without us I’d predict disintegration.” – The Times (£)
>Today: Video: WATCH: Cameron – the UK will have “the best of both worlds”
>Yesterday: MPs Etc.: Project Fear Scare Story of the Week: The AA’s petrol price panic
“Michael Gove was last night dramatically outed as a member of the Leave camp – by the Prime Minister. David Cameron made the revelation during his press conference after striking his deal in Brussels. On Mr Gove’s position, Mr Cameron said: ‘He has wanted to get Britain to pull out of the European Union for about 30 years.'” – Daily Mail
Grassroots Out shambles
“Losing Gove – one of Cameron’s best friends – is a blow to No10. But Boris going Out would be catastrophic for Cameron. With Boris on one side and Cameron on the other, there’d be no Tory swing towards In, something he needs to secure a decisive victory. At the moment, Downing Street still doesn’t know what the London Mayor is going to do. Having been sure he would be for In – Cameron has always delighted in pointing out that Boris has never actually called for Britain to leave the EU – No10 is now not so sure.” – The Sun
Editorial:
>Today:
>Yesterday: Iain Dale’s column: If Boris backs Leave and becomes leader, it will stink
“George Osborne is on course to miss borrowing targets by £5 billion this year, experts have predicted. The Chancellor is facing a headache in next month’s Budget after “disappointing” January tax receipts, top economists said. The Office for National Statistics said public sector net borrowing was in surplus by £11.2 billion in January, fuelled by strong tax receipts.” – The Sun
“Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has said she is greatly disappointed in her former Better Together stablemates for allowing nationalists to join their parties. Labour and the Liberal Democrats have signalled they would permit their members to campaign for independence, despite siding with Tories in the campaign to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom.” – The Scotsman
“One of the most notorious spin doctors of the Gordon Brown era is returning to the Labour party under Jeremy Corbyn. Damian McBride, who resigned from the party in disgrace in 2009, will work for Emily Thornberry, the shadow defence secretary, who has the job of sorting out the party’s position on Trident.” – The Times (£)
“An internal inquest into the party’s disastrous electoral performance has found that a lack of research left it “flying blind”, with little factual basis for its political messaging. The Lib Dems conducted “no polling activities of note” in the first two years of coalition government “as a result of dwindling funds”, according to the review published on Friday. “Once a comprehensive polling programme was reinstated in 2012, the fundamental damage was already done.”” – FT