CAMERON’S EU DEAL IS A CON
MEPs can alter the terms AFTER our referendum
DAVID Cameron was accused of a con last night as Downing Street admitted his new Brussels deal could be further watered down after the EU referendum.
Offi cials conceded that MEPs will have the power to modify key measures in his agreement with other European leaders.
It means parts of the deal – including a so- called “emergency brake” on welfare payments to migrants – could be blocked or amended after UK voters have given their verdict on Britain’s future.
Last night critics insisted the Prime Minister’s deal was designed to keep Britain tied to Brussels for ever. Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: “David Cameron is being utterly duplicitous and dishonest. I’ve said the whole way through that this renegotiation is a complete con job.”
Urging people to back the campaign to quit
in the referendum, Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Vote Leave campaign group, said: “The only way to obtain legally binding and irreversible change to the UK’s relationship with the EU is to vote to leave.
“Mr Cameron is asking us to sign up to hand more money and powers to Brussels on the back of supposed reforms that will have the legal weight of an unsigned contract.”
Brian Monteith, of Leave. EU said: “The exercise is a con. The question is do we want to leave or remain – not renegotiate a second time.”
Officials insisted yesterday that the Prime Minister is on course to achieve binding changes in the UK’s relationship with Brussels in talks this week.
But they also accepted that legislation will have to be passed by the European Parliament’s 751 MEPs to ensure the measures come into force.
It could allow key parts to be changed if Britain votes to stay in.
The problem is that the European Parliament has “co- decision” powers over EU law. It means MEPs are able to amend or scrap measures agreed by leaders of the 28 member nations.
The Prime Minister’s spokeswoman said: “This is a legally binding decision in international law entered into by heads of state and government.
“A number of measures would subsequently need to be introduced through secondary EU law.” Many MEPs fear the proposed deal for the UK is a threat to their dream of European unity and undermines the commitment to freedom of movement.
European Parliament president Martin Schulz hinted this month that the assembly could block the deal. He claimed British demands had tested the EU’s “patience and goodwill”.
EU Council President Donald Tusk admitted the EU could break up over Britain’s referendum.
He said: “This is a critical moment. The risk of break- up is real because this process is indeed very fragile.”
Meanwhile, a poll last night by ComRes for ITV News revealed a 10- point drop in a month in support for continued membership of the EU.
It showed that 49 per cent of people would vote to remain, while 41 per cent would vote to leave.
Tory MP Tom Pursglove said: “The British people are seeing through the renegotiations and realise it is not a return to the Common Market free trade deal they wanted in the 1970s.
“Enough is enough – we want out.”