20/02/2016 BBC Weekend News

The choice is in your hands, but my recommendation is clear;

I believe that Britain will be safer, stronger and better off

The debate has started, and the date is set,

British voters will decide on June the 23rd, if they want to stay in,

The announcement was made here in Downing Street earlier today when

the Prime Minister chaired a cabinet meeting and explained the new deal

he had negotiated in Brussels. But not everyone is convinced, Justice

Secretary Michael Gove will campaign to leave the EU along with several

other Cabinet colleagues. I just do not believe we can take decisions in

our national interest when we've given up so much control over what

this country does in the European Union.

So as the sides line up, we'll be asking voters in Swindon

for their thoughts, now that the referendum fixture

And, we'll be reporting from Edinburgh, where the Scottish

government says it will be making a strong case,

for remaining inside the European Union.

Good afternoon from Downing Street, where earlier today,

the Prime Minister emerged from Number 10,

to announce that a referendum will be held on the 23rd of June,

to decide whether Britain remains a member of the European Union.

It will be, in his words, 'one of the biggest decisions

This morning he chaired a cabinet meeting,

spelling out the new terms of EU membership,

Several of Mr Cameron's cabinet colleagues, including the justice

secretary Michael Gove, have already announced

they will campaign for Britain to leave the EU.

We'll have more on the detail of Mr Cameron's deal in a moment,

but first our political editor Laura Kuenssberg reports

Just what has the Prime Minister opened up? An argument not all of

his colleagues can agree on. As opened up? An argument not all of

Cabinet gathered to tell each other at last officially if they are in

all out. Was it a difficult decision, Mr Gove? An awkward

entrance for one of the Prime Minister's closest friends, who will

oppose him. While ministers met, a crowd gathered. It's no secret how

big a decision basis for our soul. But what the Prime Minister would

recommend was never really a secret either. With the deal from Brussels

in his back pocket, he it was. We are approaching one of the biggest

decisions this country will face in our lifetimes. Whether to remain in

a reformed European Union or to leave. Our plan for Europe gives us

the best of both worlds. It underlines our special status

through which families across Britain get all the benefits of

being in the European Union, including more jobs, lower prices

and greater security. But our special status also means we are out

of those parts of Europe that do not work for us. I will go to Parliament

and propose that the British people decide our future in Europe. Through

an in -out referendum on Thursday 23rd June. The choice is in your

hands. But my recommendation is clear, I believe Britain will be

safer, stronger and better off in a reformed European Union. Don't be in

any doubt, this is one of the biggest political moments for years,

he has finally confirmed you will be asked the biggest political question

in decades and he is putting up state our membership of the European

Union, the unity of his party and, indeed, his own political future.

Most of his ministers are on side. I think everyone think it's a good

deal, the question is whether it was good enough for everybody to think

he should still stay in Europe, I think it was. It's a great deal for

Scotland as well. Those who will fight him slip out the back door.

I'm a member of the Cabinet, the Secretary of State for Work and

Pensions. I'm ringing you from the vote leave campaign. Straight to the

headquarters of one of the outcome pains. An awkward snap of the gang

of six. This will be remembered. But what is their case? The first

Cabinet ministers to speak for out told me. There are things we could

and should be doing in the interest of this country that we simply

cannot do as mothers of the EU. I want to be able to control our

borders to limit the number of people who live and work here, but

above all I just do not believe we can take decisions in our national

interest when we are part of the European Union when we've given up

so much control over what this country does. How dangerous moment

do you think it is the Conservative Party? We will have senior figures

in the party from top to bottom publicly disagreeing with each other

over these fundamental ideas. I'm not going to attack the Prime

Minister. The Prime Minister has worked immensely hard to change our

relationship with the European Union, the debate is whether that

change is sufficient to allow us to stay or whether people will decide

to go. The campaign to state will have the backing of most Tory, Lib

Dem, labour and SNP MPs, even if for different reasons. Our position is

quite simple, that we want to be in government in 2020 to deliver a much

stronger social Europe, better workers protection, environmental

protection across Europe. That is the agenda Cameron should have been

following. Number ten hopes a new and improved relationship with the

EU can win you over, but the referendum will ask, if this place,

if all of us, RE and in charge? Lynch are really in charge.

It's three years since the prime minister said he would be seeking

a 'new settlement' for Britain, in the European Union.

The new terms he secured, in last night's agreement,

should, according to Mr Cameron, help to reduce people's concerns

But how do those new terms compare with his original goals?

Are they, as the critics say, a very poor result for the UK?

Our deputy political editor James Landale has

When David Cameron set out to reform Britain's relationship with the

European Union, his ambition was clear. That is why we need

fundamental far-reaching change. So has he got it? Well, one aim was to

deter EU migration by curbing their benefits. The Tory manifesto

promised that if an EU migrant's child is living abroad, they should

receive no child benefit. The deal says that EU migrants will just

received less child benefit. Immediately, if they are new

arrivals, in four years if they are already here. The manifesto also

promised EU migrants who want to claim tax credits must live here and

contribute to our country for a minimum of four years. The deal says

instead EU migrants will have their tax credits phased in readily over

four years. A restriction the government will be able to impose

only for the next seven years. The Prime Minister also promised to

protect Britain from being sucked into deeper political union. I'm

asking European Union leaders for a clear, legally binding and

irreversible agreement to end Britain's obligation, so it's time

to give these national parliaments a greater say in EU lawmaking. The

deal does indeed save the UK won't be committed to further political

integration and it gives more power to national parliaments to block new

EU laws. The Prime Minister promised to protect the economy from

financial decisions made by Eurozone countries. I'm asking European

leaders to agree clear and binding principles that protect written and

other non-euro countries. And a safeguard mechanism to enjoy those

principles are respected and enforced. The deal bans any

discrimination against non-euro countries and gives the UK the right

to challenge, but not veto, Eurozone decisions they oppose. This deal

does introduce a deterrent against migration, safeguards from the

Eurozone, and a check on further political integration. But it

doesn't restrict free of movement labour around Europe, doesn't change

EU employment law, doesn't reform farm payments. All of which the

Prime Minister has promised in the past. This deal is by definition a

compromise. The question now is whether it's good enough to convince

voters to remain in the EU or so minimal it persuades them to vote to

leave. Let's draw some of these strands together.

In a moment we'll be talking to Laura Kuenssberg our political

editor, who's with me here, but first to Brussels

What is your sense of the reaction there today, given all of the first

strands of the debate we are now getting in the UK? Here, as bleary

eyed European leaders left last night, they sounded relieved the

British issue was settled for now at least, because it's been a long

negotiation, it's been hard, some found it quite irritating. There

have been tricky issues to crack, many worried the initial benefit

discrimination and macro proposals discriminated against EU workers.

France said Britain was seeking special treatment for the City of

London. Angela Merkel, the key ally of David Cameron, Sergei found it

hard to accept the EU was opting out of closer political union. A deal

was done because it had to be done. The need to give David Cameron Amy

negotiation he could sell with some conviction from those concerns and

produced those compromises that didn't break fundamental European

principles. There is relief in Europe that it can also now start to

think about bigger issues, equally big issues like the migration

prices. -- migration crisis. They think it could endanger the whole

European project if Britain left, but they know it's not up to them.

Laura is with me in Downing Street. What has been confirmed today.

Laura is with me in Downing Street. some things to tie up? Two quite big

unresolved issues, first, will that gang of six Conservative Cabinet

ministers who have been out and proud today become a gang of seven.

We haven't seen hide nor hair of Boris Johnson, friend and rival of

the Prime Minister. You many people believe could add some real fizz to

the campaign and cut through too many members of the public. What is

still unresolved is what non-button has come up with on the issue of

sovereignty. The simplest way of describing this is, the government

wants to come up with something that means our Supreme Court here in

London would be able to give the European Court a much harder time

when the European Court tries to overturn some of our laws. It's

crucial to some Eurosceptics who really think we should leave the

European Union. Tomorrow we will get more details of that from the Prime

Minister. Overall questions will be bigger than that, the fight will be

intense. Now we know the vote is going to be 123 days away, feels

like a long time. A week is a long time in politics.

In Edinburgh, the Scottish government,

says it remains committed to making the case for Britain remaining

The first minister and leader of the SNP, Nicola Sturgeon,

said it was now more important than ever that those who supported

Scotland's being inside the EU said so loudly and clearly.

Our Scotland editor Sarah Smith is in Edinburgh with

As you said, the SNP have indicated they intend to campaign vigorously

for continued membership in the European Union and, in fact, nearly

all senior politicians in Scotland have said they will campaign to

remain. The polls here are currently showing about 60% of Scottish voters

say they will opt to stay in the European Union. That is why the SNP

have said today that Scotland should not be forced out of the EU, if the

have said today that Scotland should rest of the UK votes to leave. On

eight to reach Edinburgh afternoon, people still enjoy if you European

delicacies with a Scottish touch. Irn-Bru flavoured macaroons anyone?

-- driech. Seriously, what happened in the EU referendum in June could

have far-reaching consequences in Scotland. This referendum is meant

to end the debate about Britain's future in or out of the European

Union, but could raise all sorts of questions about the future of the

United Kingdom. If the UK were to vote to leave while Scotland had

indicated voters wanted to remain, it could cause a second referendum

on Scottish independence. The Nationalists might be more

on Scottish independence. The win this time. The SNP insists

Scotland should not be forced out of EU if it's not what

Scotland should not be forced out of I hope it doesn't happen, I hope the

Scotland should not be forced out of UK as a whole votes to stay in, but

I think it's obvious UK as a whole votes to stay in, but

if Scotland found themselves taken out of the EU against their will, we

would have another referendum. In a French cafe in Edinburgh the

argument about Britain's future in the EU is seen as part of the wider

ongoing debate about Scotland's place in the world. Scotland is used

to being part of a larger union, it knows how to operate. England has

not had that experience, and it's scary. England has always been a

dominant part of the United Kingdom. It doesn't know how to be the

smaller part of a bigger union. Scotland is an important nation

throughout the world, it's a key exporter, its lead the world in

research and development. What we are now part of is an ever shrinking

part of the global market. It is not democratic, it doesn't respect our

wishes. I think even though we've had some success in Europe in the

past, it's time to move on. It can be a pretty lonely job trying to

persuade Scots to vote to leave. Nearly all the senior politicians in

Scotland will be campaigning to stay. Here in Scotland we need a

Scottish Government to stand up against Brussels and fight for our

steelworkers and steel industry, our farming industry and fishing

industry. Sadly, they are not doing that. Those campaigning to stay in

the EU have a much easier job in Scotland. Polls show Scots are more

likely to opt to remain than voters in any other part of Britain. In the

end it could be Scottish votes that keep the UK inside the EU. Our

Scottish editor with the latest perspective in Edinburgh. You can

find out more background and analysis about the referendum and

the issues involved on our website. If you have a look at that, you will

see the blogs from Laura Kuenssberg and others and plenty of background.

Take a look at the website when you can.

Let's take a brief look at some of the day's other news now.

It's thought two Serbian citizens were killed in a US air strike

yesterday on so-called Islamic State militants in Libya.

The pair were embassy workers who were kidnapped in November.

They were being held near a site which the Americans claimed

President Museveni has won Uganda's election,

International election observers criticised the conduct

of both the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Mr Museveni has already been in office for 30 years.

The magician and entertainer Paul Daniels - who was a familiar

face on BBC television for 15 years - has been diagnosed

The 77 year-old is married to fellow entertainer Debbie McGee.

Let's have some more on today's announcement -

here in Downing Street - that a referendum on the UK's future

in the European Union will be held on June the 23rd,

just over a year since the general election last year.

Our correspondent Robert Hall has been to Swindon

to talk to voters there about the prospect of

A miserable match day in Swindon town. Fans trudging through the

puddles towards kick-off were still digesting Mr Cameron's efforts in

Brussels. Not too happy with it because I think he could have gone a

lot further. Seems to have got a better deal but I'm still not

convinced it'll all go through. These people talk about us coming

out of the European Union don't think about the cost on jobs. The

County Ground is a few yards from the Magic roundabout. Actually, six

mini roundabouts. Once voted the scariest road junction in the UK.

The key to getting through this junction safely is to make a clear

decision about where you want to go and not be distracted by the

swirling traffic around you. Swindon's travellers take it in

their stride, but can they concentrate as hard on the blur of

information on issues surrounding a referendum vote? Across the junction

in die's barbershop, the bars of clippers rather than Brussels

politics was foremost in customers minds. I'm not very aware of what

the major issues are regarding leaving the EU. Overall, it's not

going to make that much of a difference, there are more serious

things facing the country than membership of the EU. Every driver

approaching the Magic roundabout is given a clear idea of what they are

facing. Most people here simply want clarity and honesty ahead of any

vote. They can't really sit around once he's got this arrangement and

say we will have a referendum and expect us to walk in and vote on

something we don't understand and don't know enough about. We do need

to be part of a large community. It's down to the politicians to make

sure the things that really matter are the things people think about

when they are going to put across in the box. The journey ahead will

bring more passionate debate and more conflicting information.

Working out the right way to travel will be a continuing headache.

A selection of views in Swindon today. Let's talk to Laura. About

the stakes, they are so high. Huge, whatever the fortunes of individual

politicians and politics, and there will be plenty of it in months to

come, it's a huge moment. We know when this road will happen and that

it is certain to happen. It means there is a real possibility we might

leave the European Union for good or for eel, it's been part of the way

the country is run. For many years. -- full or doorbell.

The fact we might be on our way out, that, in itself, is a huge thing

here. The stakes are massive. Ironic for a Prime Minister who began his

leadership saying his party had to stop banging on about Europe. He is

making this question part of his legacy. We'll talk again this

evening, no doubt.