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London - UK Prime Minister David Cameron will allow ministers in his cabinet to decide for themselves whether to campaign for Britain to stay in or leave the European Union - a so-called Brexit - in a referendum expected later this year.
The prime minister will tell lawmakers of the move in the House of Commons in London on Tuesday afternoon after a statement about the progress of his renegotiation of Britain’s membership of the bloc, according to a government official speaking on condition of anonymity because the plan hasn’t yet been announced.
UK ministers are usually expected to abide by the principle of collective responsibility, which means supporting the government’s agreed position even if they have personal doubts. With Cameron on course to campaign to stay inside the EU, ministers who wish to publicly disagree would currently have to quit their posts.
Collective responsibility will apply during negotiation, the official said. When that’s over, the government will take a position, but ministers, including cabinet ministers, will be permitted to campaign against Britain’s membership.
Graham Brady, the chairperson of the 1922 Committee, which speaks for rank-and-file Conservative members of parliament, wrote in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper last month that there was an “overwhelming case” for allowing freedom of conscience on the issue.
Cameron, who agreed to a referendum to deal with splits within the Tories, has so far managed to keep a lid on these divisions.
In June, he appeared to signal that he would expect ministers to support him, saying the government couldn’t be “neutral” on the matter. The following day he backed away from that, with his office saying his words had been “over interpreted”.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Vote Leave campaign, welcomed the suspension of collective responsibility.
“The referendum could be as little as 170 days away, so ministers should be allowed to campaign openly as soon as the renegotiation is complete,” he said in an e-mailed statement.
“The British people deserve to hear where their elected representatives stand on this vitally important issue.”
