Cameron battles UKIP threat with guarantee of EU vote
UKIP's surge prompts embattled PM to harden EU referendum promise by 'enshrining it in law'
DAVID CAMERON has "shifted ground" on Europe and says he is now prepared to introduce "legal safeguards" that will guarantee a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU takes place after the 2015 general election.
The Prime Minister's willingness to give MPs a vote on an in-out referendum that would enshrine the process in law is seen as a response to the growing electoral threat posed by UKIP. Nigel Farage's anti-EU party, which has described Cameron's promise of a referendum by 2018 as "meaningless", is expected to enjoy another surge in support today in local government elections taking place in many English shires.
The Daily Telegraph says UKIP has "campaigned successfully" on the claim that Cameron's promise of a referendum is "jam tomorrow". Polls suggest UKIP will win more than 20 per cent of the vote at today's elections and Conservative strategists believe the Tory party will lose as many as 500 council seats.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The PM has "always held back" from giving MPs a pre-election vote on a referendum because he knows it will "split the coalition and enrage pro-European Tories", says The Times. He has changed his mind partly because of UKIP's surging fortunes and partly due to pressure from within his own party. More than 100 Tory MPs have urged him to make such a move "as a way of overcoming scepticism of promised referendums, while undercutting UKIP's appeal".
The idea of "legislating" the referendum promise will be explored by No. 10's newest recruit, Jo Johnson, brother of London mayor Boris Johnson.
Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, said today that the Tories' frantic "struggle" to deal with UKIP's rising influence was pulling Cameron away from the "centre ground" and making "day-to-day progress in the coalition" more difficult, The Guardian reports. Clegg, whose own party faces the prospect of coming fourth behind UKIP in today's poll, said he would "dig in my heels and make sure the centre of gravity of the government as a whole does not get pulled rightwards due to the internal dynamics of the Conservative party".
The deputy PM said Conservative policies on welfare, Europe and climate change were three "pre-eminent examples" of Cameron being pulled right. He also conceded that his coalition partner was "no longer the same political animal as presented before the 2010 general election".
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Codeword: October 7, 2024
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
The next place you'll find Starlink tech isn't a war zone — it's your airplane seat
Under the Radar Several major airlines are offering free in-flight Wi-Fi through the technology
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The fishy diplomacy causing tensions between Bangladesh and India
Under The Radar Exports of a 'sacred' fish were recently suspended during difficult relations for the two nations
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
What next for Reform UK?
In the Spotlight Farage says party should learn from the Lib Dems in drumming up local support
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Why is Germany cracking down on migration?
Today's Big Question New border rules test the European Union
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
David Cameron resigns as Sunak names shadow cabinet
Speed Read New foreign secretary joins 12 shadow ministers brought in to fill vacancies after electoral decimation
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published