Conservative ministers to be allowed free vote over Brexit

ON JANUARY 5, Prime Minister David Cameron announced in Parliament that he would allow his ministers a free vote on the matter of whether Britain should remain within the European Union or not once an agreement has been reached between the UK and the EU.

He went on to say that it is his intention that the UK government would make a recommendation to the British people on which way to vote in the referendum however he will allow ministers to campaign for either side.

A great deal now depends upon the outcome of the negotiations as if the amendments that he is arguing for are not accepted by the EU then it is possible that the government will recommend in favour of an exit which would please a number of conservative ministers and members of parliament.

Opposition parties took the opportunity to deride Mr Cameron and his government as being divided and unable to reach any form of consensus but in the case of labour in particular Mr Corbyn’s dithering over the reshuffle of his shadow cabinet made it difficult for him to be too vituperative.