Cameron to meet cabinet after clinching EU deal
Prime Minister David Cameron will meet senior ministers today to endorse an EU deal he hopes will persuade voters to ratify Britain's membership of the world's largest trading bloc at a referendum likely to be held in June.
Cameron hailed a deal clinched with other European Union leaders at a summit in Brussels as granting Britain special status, and said he would campaign hard to convince voters to stay in the bloc that Britain joined in 1973.
"I will be campaigning with all my heart and soul to persuade the British people to remain in the reformed European Union," Cameron said after securing the deal that was approved by all other 27 EU leaders.
"We are stronger, safer and better off inside this reformed European Union," Cameron said. He will update senior ministers at a Cabinet meeting at 1000 GMT and announce the referendum date soon afterwards.
The legally-binding agreement reached late on Friday granted Britain an explicit exemption from the founding goal of "ever closer union", offered concessions on the welfare rights of migrant workers and safeguards for the City of London.
A British exit from the EU would rock the Union - already shaken by differences over migration...