Obama boost for Cameron in battle with rebels

Speaking after talks with the Prime Minister in Washington, Mr Obama said it “makes some sense to me” to try to “fix” the relationship before deciding whether to leave. His comments, which delighted Downing Street aides, came as growing numbers of Conservative MPs signed up to a parliamentary motion calling for legislation on an EU referendum, which is expected to spark a potentially divisive vote in the House of Commons tomorrow.

Two serving Cabinet ministers, Education Secretary Michael Gove and Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, have said they would vote to leave the EU if there were a referendum today.

Ministerial aides Stuart Andrew and Gavin Barwell said they will back the amendment after Downing Street took the unusual step of saying parliamentary private secretaries are free to do so without losing their jobs. Ministers have been told they may abstain but not vote for the amendment.

At a White House press conference, Mr Cameron insisted a referendum would present voters with a “false choice” between an unreformed EU or British exit.

“Is it in our interests to reform the European Union, to make it more open, more competitive, more flexible, and to improve Britain’s place within the European Union?” he added. “Yes, it is in our national interests. And it’s not only in our national interest, it is achievable.”

Mr Obama stressed the decision on the UK’s future was a matter for the British people, but said: “David’s basic point that you probably want to see if you can fix what is broken in a very important relationship before you break it off makes some sense to me.”

And he added: “I think the UK’s participation in the EU is an expression of its influence and its role in the world as well as obviously a very important economic partnership.”

Mr Cameron also announced a doubling of British military support for Syrian rebels.