BIRMINGHAM: Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday that a referendum on Britain’s relationship with the European Union would be the “simplest” way of resolving the issue.

Cameron said changes within the EU as the eurozone countries sort out their currency opened up opportunities for Britain to renegotiate its settlement with the 27-member bloc. He said he was against a public vote on quitting the EU but a referendum on any new arrangement would be the “most sensible” option.

“Europe is changing,” he told BBC radio at his Conservative Party’s annual conference, in Birmingham. “The eurozone is going to integrate, they’re going to do more things together and I think that’s right for them—it’s necessary if they’re going to save the single currency.

“But I think that does open up the opportunity for Britain to get a fresh and a better settlement with Europe and I’m committed to making sure we do everything to set that out in the run-up to the next election, to get that fresh settlement and then seek fresh consent for that settlement.

He said he opposed a “straight in-out referendum” because “I’m neither in favour of out, leaving altogether, nor am I satisfied with the status quo. I want to change the status quo”. AFP