James Landale
Deputy political editor

Sir John Major warned that flirting with leaving the EU was dangerous. Heading off into "splendid isolation would not be in our interests". There would be "acrimonious negotiations" with an "irate ex-partner" if the UK left, it would not save much money, nor better control our borders.

But it would lead, he argued, to a "fractured" UK because of the "high probability" of Scotland voting for independence. And between the lines there was an implicit message for David Cameron to start making similar arguments and not base his campaign to stay in solely on the reforms he hopes to negotiate in Brussels this week.

"This renegotiation is important," Sir John said, "but it shouldn't decide whether or not we remain inside the European Union."

In the Commons the SNP leader at Westminster, Angus Robertson, asked Mr Cameron if he would heed Sir John's advice. The prime minister replied he would get the best deal for Britain.

BBC News Channel

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has criticised the government's plans to allow fracking under national parks, due to be formalised in a vote today. Mr Farron, whose constituency includes parts of the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District, says drilling on the edge of protected areas will not avoid problems, because national parks "do not begin immediately from urban sprawl into lakes and mountains". Fracking produces shale gas, a fossil fuel, which is the "exact opposite" of what the government agreed in the Paris climate change deal, he adds. 

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Would the panel consider voting to leave the EU? Dominic Raab says he wants to wait to see what the EU renegotiations produce but adds that without any changes it could be a possibility. Emily Thornberry says she'd vote yes - which prompts Mr Raab to say she and SNP MP Tommy Sheppard would "sell Britain down the river" and claims they don't want to give the public a say over the EU. 

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Shadow work and pensions minister Emily Thornberry says it's "dangerous" for the PM to "flirt" with the idea of leaving the EU, saying an EU exit is "completely against" the UK's interests.

She goes on to say Mr Cameron has a "lousy record" when it comes to international negotiations. - a point contested by minister Dominic Raab.

House of Commons
Parliament

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond is updating MPs on the progress of the UK's actions against so-called Islamic State, also known as Daesh. Mr Hammond says it continues to be the case that there have been no civilian casualties from UK air strikes in Iraq and Syria.

House of Commons
Parliament

Philip Hammond says the majority of Russian military strikes are still targeting opposition forces, rather than IS. This gives the militant group an advantage and is "unacceptable" he says.

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, the party's Cabinet Office spokesman, says David Cameron is trying to cut a deal with EU leaders in order to give something to the right wing of his party, but warns he's in danger of alienating people on the centre-left with some of the reforms he's seeking. He says it's time for the PM to "set his cards on the table".

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Discussing Sir John Major's intervention in the debate on Britain's future in the EU, justice minister Dominic Raab says there's bound to be a running commentary but he doesn't accept Sir John's analysis.

He believes David Cameron is right to fight for a new deal. It will be the public who decide, not the "political elite", he adds.

Image source, PA

There's a bit of a war of words going on between SNP foreign affairs spokesman Alex Salmond and Donald Trump, who has lost a legal challenge to a planned offshore wind farm close to his golfing development on the Aberdeenshire coast.

Earlier, Mr Salmond said Mr Trump was "three times a loser" and losing friends worldwide. Here's what a spokesman for the Trump Organisation had to say:

House of Commons
Parliament

The UK has set up a "communications cell" to undermine IS "propaganda", Philip Hammond tells MPs.

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

There is “nothing insular or extreme” about wanting to leave the European Union, UKIP MP Douglas Carswell has said.

Responding to Sir John Major’s warning about a British exit from the EU, Mr Carswell said that use of the phrase “splendid isolation” is a “lazy” way to attack Eurosceptics.

"Isn't it incredibly significant that they're having to rely on an ex-Prime Minister who came to office over a quarter of a century ago to make the case for them," he added, in a swipe to the remain campaign.

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine has told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme that Britain leaving the European Union would be "to spit in the wind of everything this country stands for". 

The Daily Politics

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg says David Cameron's EU renegotiations aren't going "entirely to plan". She says the government's preferred option is for the EU referendum to be held in June 2016, as they hope a deal will be agreed in February. Ministers feel that the longer they leave it, the more risk there is, shee says, while other EU leaders are also keen for it be held soon. But there's nothing certain about that timetable, she adds.

The Daily Politics