HOW CABINET COULD SPLIT
AFTER weeks of pressure, David Cameron yesterday bowed to demands to give his ministers a free vote on Europe. Here the Mail’s Political Editor looks at how the Cabinet is likely to line up.
GEORGE OSBORNE, CHANCELLOR Effectively in charge of the stay campaign, he has staked his political future on securing a deal that will keep Britain inside the EU IN
THERESA MAY, HOME SECRETARY Has concerns about f ree movement of migrants but has signed up to EU schemes on fighting terrorism and crime. Wants curbs on free movement of migrants. Will decide if in or out at the last minute YET TO SHOW HAND
PHILIP HAMMOND, FOREIGN Once considered a fervent eurosceptic, his position has shifted since he entered the Foreign Office. Having played a role in negotiating the PM’s referendum deal, he is almost certain to back it IN
MICHAEL FALLON, DEFENCE Number Ten has turned to him to defend its renegotiation during r ocky moments. Expected to back the final deal IN
IAIN DUNCAN SMITH, WORK AND PENSIONS A committed eurosceptic, the former Tory leader once declared that he would ‘fight with all my strength to defend the British people’s right to govern themselves’ OUT
SAJID JAVID, BUSINESS Has said that leaving ‘isn’t something that I’d be afraid of ’ and that currently the costs of membership ‘outweigh benefits’. He is a close ally of the Chancellor, however, and may not wish to line up against him
LIKELY OUT – BUT TORN
JEREMY HUNT, HEALTH Loyal to the PM and a pragmatist on Europe, he is likely to back the PM’s deal IN
MICHAEL GOVE, JUSTICE Long- standing eurosceptic who says he ‘not happy’ with our position in the EU and life outside would be ‘perfectly tolerable’. Could be torn by personal loyalty to the PM, however
LIKELY OUT – BUT TORN
JOHN WHITTINGDALE, CULTURE Long-standing eurosceptic. Leave campaigners hope he will play a key role in the referendum by ensuring the BBC coverage is unbiased OUT
CHRIS GRAYLING, LEADER OF THE COMMONS Would have resigned if ministers hadn’t been given a free vote. Will play a prominent role in the Leave campaign, having said Britain could ‘prosper’ outside of the EU OUT
NICKY MORGAN, EDUCATION Reported as saying she could personally not imagine backing Brexit. Will support the deal the PM secures in February IN
PATRICK MCLOUGHLIN, TRANSPORT Once declared ‘there might be a time where we think … we want to get out of Europe’, but as ex-chief whip, is unlikely to oppose the PM IN
LIZ TRUSS, ENVIRONMENT Says she sees ‘all the time’ the damage that the European Common Agricultural Policy can have on British farmers but is considered unlikely to line up against the PM.
YET TO SHOW HAND AMBER RUDD. ENERGY Before joining the Government, she issued warnings about the damage being done to the financial sector by EU regulation
YET TO SHOW HAND JUSTINE GREENING, INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Has called for restrictions on the free movement of labour
YET TO SHOW HAND THERESA VILLIERS, NORTHERN IRELAND Along with Chris Grayling, was likely to quit if a free vote wasn’t allowed. Also expected to play a prominent role in the leave campaign
OUT GREG CLARK, COMMUNITIES Loyal to both the PM and Chancellor, he is expected to back the renegotiation IN
STEPHEN CRABB, WALES Has extolled the benefits of EU membership, saying it is ‘a huge strategic advantage’ for Wales IN
DAVID MUNDELL, SCOTLAND Wanted a free vote but is supportive of PM’s renegotiation IN
PRITI PATEL, EMPLOYMENT MINISTER ATTENDING CABINET She has declared the British public ‘ want our political leaders to say No to the unaccountable federalist European agenda which has led to the widespread failures of the EU we face today’ OUT