Britons are tentatively pencilling in June 23 as the date on which they will vote on a binding ‘In’ or ‘Out’ question on the United Kingdom’s future in the European Union. That there indeed is a vote at all is all down to the questionable decision-making of UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who said he would call a vote on new negotiated terms if re-elected in May of last year.
Those terms have been agreed between Cameron and Donald Tusk, President of the European Council. Cameron, however, still has to get the rest of the 28 members of the EU to agree on those terms, and a summit in two weeks’ time.
Cameron has managed to wring the right to limit benefits for new migrants, but that’s going to be a hard sell for the rest of the EU bloc. He wanted greater independence for non-Eurozone members of the EU; he received a statement that the EU recognised the special circumstances of those nations. Similarly, he wanted greater commitment to the free flow of goods; he got a statement that recognised the long-term goal to improve in these areas.
Lastly, Cameron wanted a commitment that would end a move for greater powers for the EU parliament at the expense of national parliaments; he received a pledge that calls for a combination of nations making up 55 per cent of votes on the council to exercise a veto.
Simply put, Cameron is risking the future of the UK on a shaky deal that’s going to be a hard sell to a British public weary of waves of refugees across the English Channel.
