EU Referendum


EU politics: Tory rebels press for Europe exit plan


23/11/2014



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In the Sunday Times today we see Owen Paterson reported as, tomorrow, seeking to place himself at the head of a future "out" campaign by arguing that Britain can be better off outside the EU.

He will challenge the prime minister formally to set out ahead of the general election how he would quit the EU, according to a source familiar with his thinking.

It is understood that Paterson favours a move, that the government invoke article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which triggers a two-year period of negotiations if Britain wants to leave. He believes that will focus minds in Brussels and extract the maximum concessions before Cameron's planned in-out referendum in 2017.

He is expected, says the paper, to declare: "We're much better making laws in our own parliament".