London: Britain will hold a historic referendum on whether to stay in the European Union on June 23, Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Saturday even as he warned that leaving the 28-nation bloc would be a "leap in the dark".
Making the announcement outside his 10 Downing Street residence after briefing the cabinet on the EU reform deal he struck in Brussels on Saturday, Cameron said, "The vote would be one of the biggest decisions this country will face in our lifetimes."
He said he would be campaigning to remain in a reformed bloc as the UK would be "safer and stronger" if it remained in the EU. "The choice is in your hands - but my recommendation is clear. I believe that Britain will be safer, stronger and better off by remaining in a reformed European Union," Cameron said in his direct appeal to the British public.
The Prime Minister warned that leaving the EU would be a "leap in the dark" as he appealed to voters to back his reform deal. "Those who want to leave Europe cannot tell you if British businesses would be able to access Europe's free trade single market, or if working people's jobs are safe, or how much prices would rise. All they're offering is a risk at a time of uncertainty - a leap in the dark," he said.
Cameron, who spent the last few days thrashing out new terms for Britain's membership of the EU, has given his Cabinet and MPs a free vote on the issue. He said if Britons decided to remain in the EU, he would seek continued reforms to address their concerns about job losses and benefit payments to EU migrants seeking work in Britain.
"I do not love Brussels, I love Britain...the question is - will be we safer, stronger and better off working together in a reformed Europe or out on our own?" he said, emphasising that Britain can have "the best of both worlds" if it remains in the EU under the reform deal he with EU leaders.
His comments came as clear lines began to be drawn within the Cabinet along the "Leave" or "Remain" campaign for the EU. A string of ministers have come out in favour of remaining - but others will campaign against Cameron. Priti Patel, the senior-most Indian-origin member of the Cabinet, came out openly in favour of leaving the EU.
The UK employment minister and Cameron's Indian Diaspora Champion joins other senior colleagues like UK justice secretary Michael Gove and Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers. Most other ministers will campaign to remain, including UK business secretary Sajid Javid, international development secretary Justine Greening and transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin.
Both groups get a 600,000 pounds campaigning grant, campaign broadcasts, free mailshots and a spending limit of seven million pounds to lay out their case.
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