Has the Prime Minister won significant concessions?
by Prospect Team / February 22, 2016 / Leave a comment
British Prime Minister David Cameron addresses a press conference at the end of a crunch two-day EU summit at the European Council in Brussels, Belgium, 19th February, 2016. ©Xinhua/SIPA USA/PA Images
Read more: Cameron’s compromise
On Friday evening, David Cameron announced that he had struck a deal with European Union leaders. Britain’s relationship with the EU is sufficiently reformed on issues such as “ever closer union” and benefits for migrant workers, Cameron claims, to mean that we should remain a member. He will campaign to remain leading up to the referendum on 23rd June.
But Cameron’s critics allege that nothing much has changed. They are quick to point out that the concessions Cameron has won are watered-down versions of what he first proposed. (for a run-down of precisely what the agreement means, read John Springford’s piece here).
Has Cameron achieved meaningful reform? Our panel of experts, including Priti Patel, Minister of State for Employment, and Neil Carmichael, chair of the Conservative Europe Group, offer their views.
Let’s take back control
Prit…