There was a robust exchange between the CBI's John Cridland and UKIP MP Douglas Carswell on the Daily Politics earlier, with Mr Carswell saying a recent poll suggesting eight of ten firms wanted to stay within the European Union was a "bit dodgy". He compares CBI polls on the issue to Volkswagen's test results for diesel emissions - which were found to have been fraudulent following the use of so-called "cheat" software, suggesting they do not "reflect business opinion". But Mr Cridland says he has been in the job for five years and has never argued that all businesses think the same way. Their varying views on the EU often depend on the amount of international trade they do, and it is right the CBI leadership consult their members before recommending what to do in the referendum. 

The Daily Politics

Speaking on the BBC's Daily Politics, Tory MP Mark Field says it is becoming increasingly possible George Osborne may have to "can" his proposed cuts to working tax credits. Mr Field says he backs the proposed changes to thresholds but politics is the "art of the possible" and the chancellor may not now be able to get them through the House of Commons, let alone the House of Lords. If the proposals are watered down to mean they only apply to new claimants, Mr Field says this will leave a gap in the chancellor's spending plans but this could be filled by higher than expected economic growth. But Paul Johnson, from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, tells the same programme that if Mr Osborne significantly revises his plans, he might breach the overall cap on welfare spending and have to return to Parliament to seek more money for benefits next year, which would be a "little embarrassing".

Daily Mirror

Speaking in Israel, where he is on a four-day trade trip, Boris Johnson has commended David Cameron's "strong" message about the pros and cons of staying within the EU.  

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

There has been a second protest at the CBI conference over its stance on the European Union but, this time, from outside the venue. Waving placards and shouting slogans, activists from the Trade Unions Against The EU warned that the 28-member organisation is effectively run by businesses which are "riding roughshod over the law to defend their financial and political interests". Their spokesman Brian Denny said: 

The Daily Politics

Former Labour Security Minister Admiral Lord West and CND leader Kate Hudson spoke to Jo Coburn on the Daily Politics.

Reacting to David Cameron's speech, Labour says the prime minister cannot bring himself to say, for reasons of party unity, that the UK is "stronger" and more "successful" within the European Union. Read Hilary Benn's full statement. , external

Image source, PA

Mayor of London Boris Johnson and his Tel Aviv counterpart Ron Huldai have exchanged gifts after the two men went for a cycle ride round the Israeli city. Mr Johnson, who is on a trade trip to Israel, presented Mr Huldai with a book about cycling in London and a cycle hire t-shirt. In response, Mr Huldai gave Mr Johnson a beach towel and flip flops.

More reaction to that brief protest at the CBI conference. The CBI's president, Paul Drechsler, says he welcomes the fact its members have "different views" on the issue of the UK's membership of the EU as it helps to generate "better ideas and solutions". While recognising the fact that the EU is "far from perfect" and needs reform, he says the CBI has been "absolutely consistent" in arguing, on the basis of the "facts and the evidence", that the "advantages of being in the EU exceed the downsides". When the PM has concluded his negotiations, he says the lobby group will look at its position again and take a stance ahead of the referendum based on the questions of "growth, jobs and prosperity". 

Image source, PA

A CBI spokesperson has responded to the heckling during David Cameron's speech, which was aimed at the lobby group over its stance on the European Union.

BBC News Channel

John McDonnell suggests the PM's strategy on Europe is "fairly obvious and everyone can see through it". Labour's shadow chancellor accuses the PM of "bluff and bluster" and says that despite his tough words to business leaders, everyone knows he will "come down on the side" of staying in the EU. As for the opposition, he tells BBC News Labour accepts the EU needs reform but believes this is better achieved by remaining a member of the club not "shouting from the sidelines". 

Pro-EU campaigners have called the actions of the Vote Leave organisation "grubby" and "desperate" after they orchestrated a protest at the CBI annual conference. 

Two protesters heckled David Cameron during his speech at the event. They told Sky News Vote Leave had created a fake company for them to attend the conference for businesses.

BBC News Channel

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell suggests that Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is "on the edge of resigning" amid a reported row with Chancellor George Osborne about cuts to the Universal Credit in the spending review. He tells the BBC that Mr Osborne is going about the review "in the wrong way", cutting support for hard-working families while giving tax cuts to high-earners and big companies. While Labour backs cutting the deficit and debt, he says the government "is failing on its own terms" on borrowing and approaching the review from a political, rather economic, standpoint.