Five ways to win a referendum, and five potential pitfalls

David Cameron's Conservative government elected in May 2015 is committed to a referendum on EU membership in 2016 or 2017. Many commentators assume that he will negotiate a package of EU reforms, cajole much of his party to back the result, and then cruise to victory in the referendum. And so he might. But there’s many a slip twixt cup and lip. How can Cameron maximise his chances of winning? And what are the chief obstacles that lie in his path?

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Is Brexit inevitable? The UK’s EU membership after the General Election http://www.europeansources.info/record/is-brexit-inevitable-the-uks-eu-membership-after-the-general-election/

ESO: Background information: The road to EU reform and referendum – Cameron’s challenges and opportunities following UK General Election http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-road-to-eu-reform-and-referendum-camerons-challenges-and-opportunities-following-uk-general-election/

ESO: Background information: A five-point plan for Cameron to win an EU referendum http://www.europeansources.info/record/a-five-point-plan-for-cameron-to-win-an-eu-referendum/

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