British Prime Minister David Cameron tripped up over Europe at a summit of the Group of Seven Industrial nations (G7), appearing to issue an ultimatum to his own ministers over the EU only to swiftly withdraw it, saying he had been misunderstood. The debacle was Cameron's first serious setback since he was re-elected a month ago and was all the more awkward because it concerned his flagship policy of renegotiating Britain's EU ties before holding an in-out EU membership referendum.
His uncertain handling of such an important issue is likely to be interpreted as a sign of how nervous he is to keep his fractious Conservative Party united to avoid a re-run of past splits which helped topple his two immediate predecessors. Britain's EU relationship was not on the G7 agenda which was devoted to issues such as Greece, Ukraine and climate change. Yet Cameron's closing news conference was dominated by the subject with all seven questioners touching on it, forcing a visibly irritated Cameron to repeat himself.
Speaking on Sunday, Cameron had moved to head off the first signs of a Eurosceptic rebellion in his party by suggesting ministers would have to back his EU strategy, which envisions Britain remaining in a reformed EU, or leave his government. "If you want to be part of the government, you have to take the view that we are engaged in an exercise of renegotiations to have a referendum, and that will lead to a successful outcome," he told reporters.
"Everyone in government has signed up to the programme set out in the Conservative manifesto," he said. But on Monday, after senior Eurosceptic lawmakers lined up to criticise his stance, Cameron said he had been misunderstood, saying his warning to ministers had only applied to the EU renegotiations period not the referendum campaign itself.
"It's clear to me that what I said was misinterpreted. I was clearly referring to the process of renegotiations," said Cameron. "I've always said what I want is an outcome for Britain that keeps us in a reformed EU, but I've also said we don't know the outcome of these negotiations, which is why I've always said I rule nothing out. Therefore it would be wrong to answer hypothetical questions." He declined to say whether ministers would be allowed a "free vote" in the referendum campaign. His apparent change of heart drew derision from his country's press corps who accused him of flip-flopping on a vital issue and of confused policy-making.
Cameron originally spoke out after a group of over 50 of his own lawmakers said they were prepared to join a campaign backing a British EU exit, or "Brexit", unless he achieved radical changes in the bloc. Cameron, who has promised to hold the referendum by the end of 2017, says he is confident he can get a deal that will allow him to recommend Britons vote to stay in the EU, which they joined in 1973.
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