PM promises ‘proper choice’ on EU after Lawson comments

United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron promised to give voters in May 2013 'a proper choice' between staying in a reformed EU and leaving, in a referendum to be held if the Conservatives win the next election.

The comments come after former Tory Chancellor Lord Lawson warned on the 7 May 2013 that any renegotiation with the EU ahead of a vote would be 'inconsequential'.

He said the UK should quit the EU, with the referendum being moved forward.

Mr Cameron was facing increased calls to bring forward a promised referendum on EU membership, following the success of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) in local elections in England in May 2013.

• Primary Source

BBC News, 07.05.13: Ex-chancellor Lord Lawson calls for UK to exit EU http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22429790

The Guardian, 09.05.13: Labour must stand firm: no to a referendum on Europe http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/09/labour-fears-eu-referendum-britain-europe

EurActiv, 10.05.13: Cameron says Britain can change the EU http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/cameron-britain-change-eu-news-519626

Blog: Open Europe, 07.05.13: Is Lord Lawson's intervention likely to be a game-changer? http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/is-lord-lawsons-intervention-likely-to.html

Blog: Kosmopolito, 05.07.13: The Renegotiation http://www.kosmopolito.org/2013/07/05/the-renegotiation/

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