EU referendum expected in September as hopes fade of deal next month

Last Updated: January 7, 2016By

David Cameron and Viktor Orbán in Budapest. They’re not shaking hands over any in-work benefits deal [Image: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images].

Does anybody else get the impression that we’ll keep being told a deal will happen, but the date will be pushed back and back again as EU countries queue up to refuse it?

Cameron’s dream of getting Europe to accept his demands is proving to be just that – a dream.

Consensus is growing among pro- and anti-EU campaigners that the referendum on Britain’s membership of the bloc will not be held until September, amid signs that a deal on David Cameron’s reform proposals will be delayed until March.

As the prime minister faced calls from Viktor Orbán, his Hungarian counterpart, to alter his proposal to ban EU citizens from claiming in-work benefits for four years, sources on both sides played down the prospect of a deal by No 10’s preferred date of February.

The two camps agree that more work will need to be done to address concerns in eastern and central Europe that the benefits proposal is discriminatory.

A failure to reach a deal at an EU summit next month would push the negotiations to the annual spring European council in mid-March, making September the earliest date that a referendum could be held.

Source: EU referendum expected in September as hopes fade of deal next month | Politics | The Guardian

Join the Vox Political Facebook page.

If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!

Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(
but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:

Donate Button with Credit Cards

Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.

Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

HWG PrintHWG eBook

The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:

SWAHTprint SWAHTeBook

latest video

news via inbox

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

No Comments

  1. Michael Broadhurst January 7, 2016 at 11:45 pm - Reply

    its just like the rest of his waffle, on any subject you care to name.
    never known a PM like him to promise so much and deliver so little.

  2. Terry Davies January 8, 2016 at 7:37 am - Reply

    Cameron is wasting time and taxpayers money. He is crazy to think that potentially racist policies of welfare will be agreed by EU partner governments.
    workfare is the only way he can save face in the future. DWP are already familiar with this as there is a USA company doing the sanctions and welfare and job suitability tests. shame on all tory voters

  3. roybeiley January 8, 2016 at 2:43 pm - Reply

    Except the Daily Telegraph thinks otherwise! According to them Cameron has got the Hungarian PM to agree to his demand no4. Hungary? What about the other 27?

  4. wildswimmerpete January 8, 2016 at 5:15 pm - Reply

    No doubt Hameron will be shuttling all around Europe in Air Pigforce One at our (enormous) cost.

    • Mike Sivier January 8, 2016 at 11:20 pm - Reply

      Air Pork One. It’s run by SleazyJet

Leave A Comment