Huntingdon MP Jonathan Djanogly has re-affirmed his view that the UK should remain part of the European Union.
Mr Djanogly announced on Wednesday (February 3) that he had joined Conservatives for Reform in Europe and co-signed a letter supporting the Prime Minister’s EU renegotiation.
The announcement came on the day that David Cameron unveiled the details of his proposed deal with the EU, which included a brake on benefits for migrants and a commitment not to include the UK in further political integration.
Mr Djanogly said: “Clearly, there is as of yet no deal for us to agree or not agree; there is only the proposal framework for a possible deal.
“However, my position on the EU has been consistent; that, on balance, I see better trade opportunities and prosperity and security for British people by staying ‘in’ the EU rather than coming out.
“This position was, however, subject to a number of reassurances I wanted to see; not least that future changes to the Eurozone should not undermine our own independent currency or economy.
“Secondly that Europe should be focussed more on providing the UK with a platform for business and deregulation, but not political integration and finally that abuses of our immigration and benefits system should be addressed.
“These issues have been addressed in the proposed deal negotiated by the government with the EU President, but are still subject to details being finalised, the agreement of the EU States and the need to work out how they will be implemented.
“Of course, these proposals could never satisfy everyone. But I take comfort in the EU Council’s commitment that the UK will be “not committed to further political integration”, and also that a new “red card” system will enable the stopping of new EU laws. Now we need to check that the proposals can be turned into a binding deal.”
North West Cambridgeshire MP, Shailesh Vara, meanwhile, said he would wait for the full details of the proposed deal to be finalised before he made a judgement on the UK’s future relationship with the EU.
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