Britain Deal Reached, Offers ‘Special Status’ To U.K — EU Summit

They are among five cabinet ministers to declare they will campaign to leave the European Union – despite a stark warning from Mr Cameron that an “out” vote would be a “leap in the dark”.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposing Labour Party, also threw his weight behind the campaign to stay.

“By leaving the European Union we can take control”.

“Now I want to speak directly to the British people to explain why”.

Donald Tusk, the European Council president, described the deal as one that “does not deepen cracks in our union but builds bridges”.

As we reported, concessions in the newly-negotiated deal include exemptions from further political integration in future treaty amendments. “This is about how we trade with neighbouring countries to create jobs, prosperity and financial security for our families”.

“I think the way geopolitics is going around the world it would better for us to have stronger alliances with people that historically have stood by us in really hard circumstances”.

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

Speaking after a landmark meeting of full cabinet – the first such meeting on a Saturday since the Falklands War in 1982 – Mr Cameron also confirmed ministers would be free to campaign for either side.

Despite that support, some Cabinet figures are expected to back the “leave” campaign that wants Britain to carve its own path outside of the bureaucracy in Brussels.

The news comes after a deal giving the United Kingdom “special status” in the European Union was reached in Brussels late yesterday evening, after two days and nights of intense talks.

At a summit that ran into overtime, European Union leaders agreed unanimously on a package of measures aimed at keeping Britain in the 28-nation bloc to avoid a potentially disastrous divorce.

“That is not the question in this referendum”, he stressed. “However I believe it is clear that a Brexit would be bad for Northern Ireland and bad for Irish-British relations”, he added.

“Leaving Europe would threaten our economic and our national security”, he said.

However, eastern European countries were concerned that his plans were discriminatory and violated the EU principle of freedom of movement. “All they’re offering is a risk at a time of uncertainty”.

Chancellor George Osborne said the deal means Britain would be “stronger, safer and better off in the EU” – and the alternative would be a “big leap in the dark”.

He has always been hoping he would be able to hold the poll in June, believing that his desired outcome was more likely the sooner it is held. Now I’m delivering on that commitment.