Six rogue Tory ministers will campaign for Brexit despite Cameron deal

Northern Ireland secretary joined them

‘A worrying development’

SIX members of the Tory cabinet, including Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, have announced they would campaign for an exit from the EU.

And the DUP last night announced that it would join the campaign for a Brexit.

DUP leader Arlene Foster announced that the deal secured by David Cameron contained ‘nothing that changes our outlook. Therefore, we will on balance recommend a vote to leave the EU’.

Minutes after David Cameron announced the date for the so-called Brexit referendum, ministers Michael Gove, Iain Duncan Smith, Chris Grayling, Theresa Villiers and John Whittingdale went from the House of Commons to the headquarters for exit campaign group Vote Leave, where they were greeted with cheers from supporters.

They were joined by junior minister Priti Patel, who also attends cabinet.

Mr Cameron called the June 23 referendum on membership of the EU yesterday as he sought to rally his divided Conservative party behind a deal which he said would guarantee British prosperity and security in the EU.

The deal agreed at an EU summit in Brussels this week granted Britain an exemption from the founding European Economic Community goal of ‘ever closer union’, offered concessions on the welfare rights of migrant workers and safeguards for the financial hub of the City of London.

Mr Cameron said he had secured his cabinet’s blessing to recommend to voters that Britain stay in the EU – which it joined, along with Ireland, in 1973.

Ms Villiers’s position could have serious implications for Ireland and Northern Ireland. FF Foreign Affairs spokesman Brendan Smith said EU funding supports vital peace projects in the border regions.

‘The Secretary of State’s position is a worrying development,’ he warned. ‘Brexit would be felt most keenly here in the Republic, the only state with a land border to the UK and our biggest trading partner.’

The Taoiseach reiterated his strong support for Britain staying within the union in a short video posted online.

He said: ‘For my part and on behalf of the government in Ireland and the Irish people, we have made it clear that we support strongly the view that Britain should remain a member of the European Union.’

Sinn Féin Senator Kathryn Reilly has called for protection for the border areas if the Brexit goes ahead. If Britain votes to leave the EU, it would be the first country to do so.

The deal agreed in Brussels this week also allows all EU countries to index-link child benefit payments sent to a child in another country to the cost of living in that country.

Mr Kenny said no Irish worker living in Britain would be affected by benefit restrictions to work or child payments.

Mr Cameron said yesterday: ‘Leaving Europe would threaten our economic and our national security,’ before announcing the referendum date as June 23, in the middle of the Glastonbury music festival and the Euro 2016 soccer championship. Chris Grayling, Leader of the House of Commons and Brexit supporter, said the cabinet had ‘agreed to have a mature, sensible, grown-up, friendly debate’ in the coming months.

London Mayor Boris Johnson has yet to make his position clear while Ukip’s Nigel Farage dismissed the deal as ‘truly pathetic’ and urged the public to seize a ‘golden opportunity’ and vote for Brexit.

Ladbrokes betting odds now indicate a 69% chance of Britain remaining in the EU.