Image source, Reuters

Sol Campbell has confirmed he intends to run for Mayor of London. The former England footballer will be speaking at a hustings next month alongside rivals in the contest to be the Conservative candidate. 

Campbell, who played for Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, admitted he would not be a "frontrunner" in the race but that he wanted to "change London for everybody". 

He campaigned with Tory candidates in the run-up to the general election but had ruled out standing as an MP himself, saying his "ambitions lie elsewhere".

Conservative Home

Conservative Home editor Paul Goodman says there have to be big changes for pollsters in the next election - after their failure to predict last month's result. 

He writes, external: "The pollsters may have a good EU referendum campaign, or a Scottish election next year.  But even if this is so, I suspect that the terms of trade for the 2020 election will be different." 

He adds: "So instead of polls driving coverage, at least to the same degree, there will be… what?  No-one can know.  Perhaps – who can say? – discussion and debate about policy will come to the fore. The future is mist."

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

David Cameron said his clear aim was to re-negotiate, get a deal and then recommend Britain stays in the EU. If successful in the negotiations, he said, then the government would not remain neutral about the deal. 

It's not a sort of "on the one hand... on the other hand" approach, Mr Cameron told reporters.

Asked if that meant ministers who wanted to campaign against any deal would have to resign, he said: "Everyone in government has signed up to the programme as set out in the Conservative manifesto."

Downing Street insists Mr Cameron is ruling nothing out - but his critics will view his stance as further evidence  that he is determined to keep Britain in the EU. 

To add to their suspicions, President Obama - following talks with the prime minister last night - said he looked forward to Britain staying in the EU and exerting a positive influence in Europe.    

The Herald, external has a story about Nicola Sturgeon's appearance on US news programme The Daily Show this evening. 

It says the SNP leader was originally billed as being a comedian on the show's website. She will no doubt be relieved that has now been corrected, external  ahead of her chat with host Jon Stewart.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Some more from David Davis, who was on the Today programme a little earlier.

He said: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime, history-changing event. For many people, it's the reason they got into politics. Not mine, but for some it is. 

"And yet the only people who will not have the freedom to vote and speak on it, according to this, are ministers in the government, which, of itself, is extraordinary.

"That will likely lead, I'm sorry to say, to some people resigning from the Government or being fired."

Image source, PA

Nadine Dorries, the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, has revealed she was sexually abused as a child.

Ms Dorries, who grew up in Liverpool, says she was abused for two years from age eight by her local vicar Reverend James Cameron, who died in 2011.

She said she had decided to reveal the truth after writing three novels that included stories of child sexual abuse.

The Church of England said a full investigation would be carried out and it would work with the authorities.

Read more here.

Image source, Reuters

The CBI has cut its UK growth forecasts and warned of further risks to the economy posed by a possible "messy" end to the Greek crisis and uncertainty over the EU referendum.

The business lobby group now expects 2.4% growth this year and 2.5% next year, down from February's forecast of 2.7% and 2.6% respectively.

It blamed weaker-than-expected growth in the first quarter for the downgrade.

The 0.3% expansion marked the UK's weakest growth since the end of 2012.

Read more here.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

More from Teeside MP James Wharton - he said he was optimistic about Prime Minister David Cameron's renegotiation efforts, adding: "I think he can be successful."

Mr Wharton said that if that does happen, then "it's reasonable to expect that collective responsibility would apply".

Thousands of migrants from Africa and the Middle East attempt to reach the shores of Europe each year, many making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean. More than 1,800 have died making the crossing so far in 2015 - a 20-fold increase on the same period last year.

The BBC has been talking to some of those who have decided to make the journey.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Image source, PA

James Wharton, minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government, was the backbencher who introduced an EU referendum bill. 

He said that "on big issues like this", that "if the government is taking a government position" of collective responsibility then "if you don't take that position, you have to leave". 

In case you missed it yesterday, one of the key demands of a new group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs is "not achievable", Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told the Andrew Marr Show.

The 50-strong Conservatives for Britain group wants Westminster to be sovereign over European Union law. But Mr Hammond said a "unilateral red card veto" for the UK would "effectively be the end" of the EU.

Later, President Obama told David Cameron the US was "very much looking forward" to Britain staying in the EU.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Image source, PA

Former Europe minister David Davis says Mr Cameron's comments suggest a change of policy since the build-up to the election. He adds, on Today, that he thinks it a "rather unwise change".

Image source, Getty

David Cameron has suggested he expects all members of the government to back him over any EU deal.

Speaking at the G7 summit in Germany, he said he was confident he could secure sufficient reforms but indicated that ministers who did not support him would have to resign.

The prime minister also said he was taking a "very open-minded view" on the timing of the in/out referendum. It comes after President Obama declared he wanted Britain to stay in the EU.

The prime minister said: "If you want to be part of the government you have to take the view that we are engaged in an exercise of renegotiation to have a referendum and that will lead to a successful outcome.

"Everyone in government has signed up to the programme set out in the Conservative manifesto."

Read more

Hello and welcome to our rolling coverage of political developments on what is a sunny Monday morning in Westminster. We'll start with a quick round-up of the main stories of the day - David Cameron on the EU referendum and the continuing G7 summit.