Cameron confident of a deal as Boris cycles in for talks
DAVID Cameron appeared confident of sealing his new EU deal last night despite a last- gasp warning from Brussels that there was “no guarantee” of agreement.
The Prime Minister heads to a summit of European leaders today in the Belgian capital seeking to conclude his package of reforms over membership of the EU.
However, pressure is mounting on Mr Cameron after he invited Boris Johnson to Downing Street for talks on the potential deal.
The 40- minute discussion signalled the importance Downing Street places on trying to keep the London Mayor on side.
Sources close to the senior Tory said he is “genuinely conflicted” over whether to campaign for Britain to stay in or leave the EU.
Leaving Downing Street in his trademark woolly hat, cycling anorak and backpack, Mr Johnson said: “I’ll be back – no deal.”
Government sources remain hopeful that the deal will be done tomorrow morning, allowing Mr Cameron to fly back to London in the afternoon to trigger his longawaited referendum campaign.
A No10 official said: “This is crunch time. We need to get the right deal for Britain.”
Asked about the chances that the deal will be agreed tomorrow, the official said: “We think we have made a lot of progress.
“We will be going to this summit seeking to nail down the rest of the details. We think we are in a good place.”
Indications that the deal is close to being signed further intensified suspicions among Eurosceptics that the package is a sham designed to keep the UK in the EU.
One senior Tory suggested the deal was a “smokescreen” yesterday.
EU Council president Donald Tusk was last night publishing a third draft deal in a bid to accommodate the concerns of critics of the British demands.
In a letter to EU leaders he said: “After my consultations in the last hours I have to state frankly – there is still no guarantee that we will reach an agreement.
“We differ on some political issues and I am fully aware that it will be difficult to overcome them.”