Referendum date to be set after Cabinet meeting — European Union

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Vote Leave campaign, predicted the PM would declare “victory” but said it would be “an entirely hollow one”.

CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn, said the reform package looks to be “a major step forward” on the journey to a more competitive and prosperous future for Britain within the EU.

Finance minister George Osborne backed Cameron and other senior members of his cabinet – such as Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond – are expected to follow suit.

No go… British Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Michael Gove announced he will not be supporting Cameron’s plan.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbynalso threw his weight behind the campaign to stay.

The referendum is June 23.

The announcement of the date sounds the launch of a campaign that will be bitterly contested, with opinion polls showing Britons fiercely divided on the question and the media pouring cold water on Cameron’s claims to have won substantial concessions from his European Union peers.

As expected, Chris Grayling, Theresa Villiers and John Whittingdale – plus Priti Patel, who is not a full Cabinet member but attends meetings – all confirmed they would be in the “out” camp during an extraordinary Saturday morning meeting of the ministerial top team.

The cabinet has agreed to recommend that Britain remains in a reformed European Union – but individual ministers will be free to campaign on either side.

“This deal has delivered on the commitments I made at the beginning of the regeneration process”, he said.

“If you love this country – and I love this country so much – then you want what’s best for it, and you want to make sure we are stronger, we are safer, we are better off and we are able to get things done in the world”, he said.

“I think we do need to take steps to place some limits on those pressures for the future”.

“I know there will be many passionate arguments over the months ahead”, he conceded.

Within minutes of Cameron’s confirmation, six of his cabinet appeared at a Vote Leave rally to join the campaign against the Prime Minister.

“But my responsibility as Prime Minister is to speak plainly about what I believe is right for our country”.

“Britain will be permanently out of ever closer union, never part of a European super state”, Cameron said. I am the first to say there are still many ways in which Europe needs to improve and that the task of reforming Europe does not end with yesterday’s agreement. “Laws which govern citizens in this country are decided by politicians from other nations who we never elected and can’t throw out”.

According to the deal, references in EU treaties to ever closer union do not apply to Britain. “This is about how we trade with neighbouring countries to create jobs, prosperity and financial security for our families”.