David Cameron commits to EU referendum
In or out? In or out? Prime Minister David Cameron's said it's time we're asked to make a decision on Europe. In a speech in London he said he knows public disillusionment with the EU is at an all-time high.
"First the problems in the eurozone are driving fundamental change ineurope, second there is a crisis in european competitiveness as other nations across the world soar ahead, and third there is a gap between the EU and its citizens which has grown dramatically in recent years, and which represents a lack of democratic accountability and consent that is yes felt particularly accutely here in Britain. Now if we don't address these challenges the danger is that europe will fail and British people will drift towards the exit. I do not want that to happen. I want the European Unionto be a success. And I want a relationship between Britain and theEuropean Union that keeps us in it."
But the PM doesn't think it's right to make that choice right now. But that we should wait until the EU has gotten itself out of the state of flux its in with the crippling financial crisis. He wants the UK to help shape a more flexible and adaptable European Union where national parliaments might have some more of their powers back and retain their strength as opposed to giving it all away.
So what happens next? Providing the Tory's get re-elected to government of course, the next manifesto will ask for a mandate from the British people to ask for a new EU treaty. If that is negotiated then the Tory's will ask for another referendum to stay in or out of the EU based on those new terms.
Written and presented by Marverine Cole