Cabinet can campaign for EU exit
Key ministers ‘were ready to quit over right to back anti-EU vote’
IN a historic victory f or open debate, David Cameron yesterday set his Cabinet ministers free to campaign for Britain to quit the EU.
His dramatic announcement follows intense pressure from senior colleagues, party grandees and the Daily Mail.
The PM was warned of at least two Cabinet resignations unless he unmuzzled his MPs and ministers. Leading Eurosceptics such as Iain Duncan Smith and Chris Grayling will now be able to play a role in a referendum expected in July.
Mr Cameron’s move horrified Europhiles but delighted ‘out’ campaigners, who now believe they can win a fight pollsters say is neck and neck.
‘This is huge for us,’ said a source in the exit camp.
In editorials, the Mail has demanded the PM hold an open debate for all voices to be freely heard.
LET MINISTERS SPEAK OUT ON EUROPE, PM TOLD From the Mail on Tuesday, December 22 Let ministers campaign to leave EU or they’ll quit Monday, December 21
DAVID Cameron caved in to pressure to let Cabinet members campaign to leave the EU after being confronted by senior ministers, it was suggested last night.
The Prime Minister was warned that unless he provided ‘clarity’ on whether MPs would be free to campaign to quit the EU, he risked opening up a damaging Government split.
At least two Cabinet ministers – Chris Grayling and Theresa Villiers – were understood to be preparing to quit if he insisted on keeping collective responsibility in place. Mr Cameron met Commons Leader Mr Grayling on Monday, when he also had a telephone discussion with Miss Villiers.
Eurosceptic sources say he was persuaded to make the announcement when MPs returned to Westminster yesterday. Downing Street insisted the Prime Minister had made up his mind over a number of weeks and there had been no decisive moment.
He said that he had never intended to ‘strongarm’ his Cabinet colleagues into taking a position they did not support.
Government insiders also insisted that no one had directly threatened to walk out during their talks with No10.
But the timing of yesterday’s announcement – coming a full six weeks before Mr Cameron is expected to finalise his referendum negotiations with Brussels on February 18 – took Westminster by surprise and triggered speculation that his arm had been twisted.
Cabinet ministers said all that mattered was that the Prime Minister was now ‘in the right place’.
One added: ‘This is great news – exactly what was needed. Now we can get on and have a mature, grown-up debate.’
Mr Cameron insisted he would not quit if the vote went against him.
He is expected to call a summer contest following the completion of his renegotiation talks with Brussels. The PM told MPs: ‘Our aim is to set forward a choice for the Brit- ish people that they want. They can either choose to stay in a reformed European Union or to leave a European Union – and come what may I will continue to lead the Government in the way I have.’
As soon as the announcement was made, MPs began speculating on which heavyweight MPs would join the ‘out’ campaign. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, Mr Grayling and Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers are expected to be at the forefront.
The spotlight also fell on avowed eurosceptics Michael Gove, the Justice Secretary, and Business Secretary Sajid Javid. One Government insider said: ‘ Both could be the most eloquent speakers for the “leave” campaign, but they are very loyal to the PM and the Chancellor.
‘Had the ban on speaking out remained in place, it would have been simpler for them. They have a big choice to make now.’
Mr Grayling declined to comment, but he is now expected to play a prominent role i n the ‘ l eave’ campaign once the referendum begins.
Former PM Sir John Major has urged Mr Cameron to maintain collective responsibility throughout the campaign, while former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine warned a free vote would make Cameron a ‘laughing stock’. Leading europhile and former chancellor Kenneth Clarke said frontbenchers should resign if they disagreed with the Government, and firm rules were needed to ensure they campaigned ‘moderately’ and didn’t ‘get carried away’.
However, writing in the Mail, his predecessor Lord Lawson has urged the Prime Minister to give Cabinet colleagues a free rein.
Mr Cameron’s decision was also applauded by Steve Baker, of Conservatives for Britain.
Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, said the PM had made ‘exactly the right call’, adding: ‘It is a mature approach to politics. It shows respect for the British public.’
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Vote Leave group, said: ‘The referendum could be as little as 170 days away, so ministers should be allowed to campaign openly as soon as the renegotiation is complete – and no later than the end of the European Council in February.
‘ The British people deserve to hear where their elected representatives stand on this important issue.
‘We’ve had lots of useful meetings with ministers and look forward to
with ministers and look forward to working with them much more closely now.’ The ban on speaking out will be lifted only when the negotiations with Brussels are complete, which is almost certain to be in February.
Critics have argued that this gives Mr Cameron an unfair advantage because he is already making the case for Britain to stay in. Privately, however, ministers acknowledge they signed up to remain on-side until the talks were over.
Downing Street was unable to say whether special advisers would be free to campaign to leave alongside their ministers – or would have to toe the Government line.