The final UK-EU deal
Referendum set for June 23. PLUS: Should Britain leave the EU? Vote in our poll.
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Hawke’s Bay
The final deal has been struck and the UK will hold a referendum on June 23 to vote on whether to remain in the EU or leave it.
Conditions for Britain to remain in the EU rather than leave (or "Brexit") will be:
- An emergency brake on EU migrants claiming in-work benefits. This was to be for four years but now is for seven years but with a maximum of four years for an individual.
- Restrictions on child benefit for EU migrants will kick in at a reduced rate – indexed to the rate of a migrant’s home country
- An opt-out from the EU’s historic commitment to forge an “ever closer union among the peoples of Europe
- UK will have the right to impose a handbrake to refer contentious financial regulation to a meeting of EU leaders in the European council
It will be interesting to see which Ministers are for or against Brexit. The popular and respected Michael Gove is going to campaign for Britain to leave the EU. This is no surprise though. He has been joined by five other ministers.
The real interest will be on what Boris does? [London mayor Boris Johnson, seen by many as a potential future Conservative leader, has ye to say whether he's pro or anti Brexit. Prime Minister David Cameron wants Britain to remain within the EU - Editor].
If the public vote to leave the EU, it is hard to see Cameron being able to remain as PM for long. This is good for those who want his job.
However if you campaign for Brexit and force the PM out, the party may blame you for the result.
Normally a party will be highly focused on unity but with UK Labour so divided and unelectable, the Conservatives can take more risks than normal.
Political commentator and pollster David Farrar posts at Kiwiblog.
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The final UK-EU deal
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