Cameron to make EU speech on Friday

The British government has said that David Cameron, the UK prime minister, will make a speech on the UK's future relationship with the rest of the European Union on Friday (18 January) in the Netherlands.  

Cameron is expected to outline the powers he wants to claw back from the EU and say that he will hold a referendum on that position after renegotiation.  

In interviews earlier today he said that he believed that the UK should remain part of the EU but that he wanted a “fresh settlement”, which would then need the “consent” of the British people.  

Cameron said that he expected to be successful in his renegotiation with other member states but said that he could threaten to veto deeper integration for the eurozone if he did not achieve his aims.  

The British prime minister spoke to his Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte, over the weekend to inform him of some of the contents of his speech. It is understood that Rutte will not attend the speech on Friday but is expected to meet Cameron at some stage during the visit.  

Cameron also spoke to Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany, at the weekend and is expected to brief other leaders before Friday.