Cameron hints at EU vote after next election

The revelation is the strongest indication yet from the Prime Minister that he may be ready to call a referendum on EU membership, if returned to power, but he said he believes that remaining in the EU is in the UK’s interests.

Speaking in a round of TV interviews during his visit to Brazil, the PM said: “I don’t think it is in Britain’s interests to leave the EU but I do think what it is increasingly becoming the time for is a new settlement between Britain and Europe, and I think that new settlement will require fresh consent.

“In the next parliament, I think there will be opportunities for a fresh settlement and for new consent to that settlement. There is a reason why. The euro is a currency with 17 different countries. I think, increasingly, one currency will mean one economic policy.

“They are going to change and that will give us opportunities for changing our relationship with Europe.

Mr Cameron also said: “I argue for Britain’s membership because I want to be able to say to countries like Brazil ‘Come to Britain and you can sell to the 320 million consumers across Europe’.

“I argue for Britain’s membership because I think it is in our interests.

“If I didn’t think it was in our interests, I wouldn’t argue for British membership.”