Summary

  • David Cameron seeks Polish support for his EU renegotiation proposals during trip to Warsaw

  • Polish PM says she support aspects of the UK's draft blueprint, such as enhanced national sovereignty and competitiveness

  • But Beata Szydlo says other areas, including curbs on EU migrants benefits, need to be 'ironed out'

  • The UK PM moves onto Denmark for talks with counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who gives full backing to his reforms

  • Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says a UN panel's ruling that Julian Assange be allowed to go free is 'ridiculous'

  • The head of the cross-party Remain in EU campaign, Lord Rose, says he expects a substantial win in the referendum

  1. David Cameron urged to delay EU referendum by first ministerspublished at 16:10

    David CameronImage source, PA

    The first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have urged David Cameron not to hold an EU referendum in June, saying it will "distract" from devolved elections taking place in May.

    Nicola Sturgeon, Carwyn Jones and Arlene Foster have written to the PM to urge him to defer the date.

    They say a June date will "confuse" the process and make it hard for them to campaign effectively in the referendum.

    Mr Cameron told MPs that voters were able to differentiate between polls.

    Read more

  2. Newspaper round up...published at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    FlagsImage source, Reuters

    Read how some of the papers have covered the EU story:

    • The Daily Mai, externall takes up Conservative former defence secretary Liam Fox's claim that as many as five Cabinet members are certain to fight for a British exit from the EU
    • The Guardian, external concentrates on exchanges between the PM and Boris Johnson in which David Cameron insists he will assert parliament’s authority if he concludes a deal on Britain's EU membership. It says this will fuel speculation that the London mayor could join pro-EU camp
    • Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph , externalreports the PM's claim that the plans put forward by Brussels were the strongest ever achieved on freedom of movement rules
    • David Cameron's "marathon session" session in the Commons takes up column inches in the Daily Mirror, external, which claims 23 Tory Eurosceptics lined up to challenge him over his draft EU deal.
  3. UK backs Jimmy Carter's guinea worm campaignpublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    Jimmy Carter

    Former US President Jimmy Carter is in London at the moment and will be making a speech to the House of Lords later.

    To coincide with his visit, the government has announced it is to form a partnership with The Carter Center, with the goal of making guinea worm only the second human disease in history to be eradicated.

    The Department for International Development is providing £4.5m in new support for the Carter Center’s guinea worm eradication programme.

  4. Watch: PMQs analysis and discussion of EU referendum timingpublished at 15:19 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    Laura Kuenssberg, Chris Bryant and Therese Coffey

    The Daily Politics

    Media caption,

    Laura Kuenssberg, Chris Bryant and Therese Coffey

  5. Labour calls for 'transparency' over Google dealpublished at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    Tax avoidance debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The shadow chancellor John McDonnell says people in Britain are incredibly angry about the Google deal because "they've not been allowed to ignore their tax demands for a decade then negotiate a sweetheart deal at mate's rates".

    He says he's written to the Competition Commission to demand a  full investigation into the deal. 

    He says "every pound avoided" in tax is "a pound taken from the pockets of honest taxpayers" and a "pound not spend on our schools, hospitals or police".

    He says the government must be transparent about the Google deal, support country-by-country reporting of corporate revenues, an end to "mate's rates" so companies pay the same tax rates, transparency about meetings between ministers and firms and independent scrutiny and an end to "counter-productive cuts and office closures" at HMRC.

    John McDonnell
  6. Lib Dems to play 'leading role' in EU remain campaignpublished at 15:17 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  7. Tie-ing up a loose end from the EU statementpublished at 15:17 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    Peter Bone

    In earlier exchanges, Conservative Peter Bone, a member of the cross party Grassroots Out (GO), said 2,500 people had turned up at an early GO conference.

    As Mr Cameron had insisted he ruled nothing out: "Could you come on February 19 to our GO conference then if you don't get what you want?"

    And holding up a green and black GO tie, he added: "Would it be possible for me to to drop off a tie for you in Downing street?"

    To laughter, Mr Cameron said: "You're always very generous with your time, with your advice - and now also with your clothing. . The tie is here, I feel the blazer is soon to follow."

    He said he would still be "in the thick of negotiations" on 19 February so would be unable to attend the conference.

  8. Scottish devolution talks to resume on Mondaypublished at 15:16 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    David Cameron and Nicola SturgeonImage source, PA

    Chief Secretary to the UK Treasury Greg Hands has told MPs he will travel to Edinburgh on Monday for further negotiations on the fiscal framework behind the Scotland Bill.

    Mr Hands told the Scottish Affairs Committee he has cleared his diary for the talks and said he remained confident a deal could be reached.

    Despite months of talks, there has been no agreement between the UK Treasury and the Scottish government.

    Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she wants a deal agreed by 12 February to allow the Scottish Parliament to scrutinise it before May's Holyrood election.

  9. Laura Kuenssberg: Are you worried by June date?published at 15:16 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  10. Cameron thanked for patience as statement endspublished at 15:00

    David CameronImage source, UK Parliament

    John Bercow brought proceedings to an end after just over two hours. For the record, the last question was from Conservative MP Martin Vickers. The Commons Speaker thanked the PM for his "patience and courtesy", a statement greeted by cheers on the Tory benches. Mr Cameron had a broad smile on his face at the end. Was that a sign of relief or quiet satisfaction at how things have gone or maybe even a recognition that the really hard graft is still to come?

  11. Speaker says no to Tory MP Hollowaypublished at 14:59 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    The session is over now, but a bit earlier former Army officer Adam Holloway tried to catch the Speaker's eye but the MP for Gravesham was told that he had "toddled into the chamber" some time after David Cameron began his speech so can't be called to ask a question. 

    There were some murmurs of discontent on the Tory benches at this but, as we know, the Speaker and his all-seeing eye are the final word on such matters.

  12. Jacob Rees-Mogg: The thin gruel has been further watered downpublished at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Media caption,

    Jacob Rees-Mogg: PM has two weeks to salvage reputation as negotiator

    Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg claimed Mr Cameron had two weeks to salvage his reputation as a negotiator - after serving up what he described as "thin gruel" .

    "In 2014/15, 183,000 economic migrants came from the European Union, none of whom would be deterred by anything we've heard so far," said Mr Rees-Mogg.

    "'Ever-closer union' may be taken out of the preamble but it remains a central text of all of the treaties... On competitiveness, that's been part of the European Union's own ambition since the Lisbon agenda of 1999.

    "The thin gruel has been further watered down. You have a fortnight, I think, in which to salvage your reputation as a negotiator." 

    Mr Cameron said Mr Rees-Mogg "had got this wrong".

    "You don't understand the power of the principles of no discrimination, no disadvantage and no cost so we can't be forced to bail out eurozone countires as we nearly were last summer," he said.

    "We're well on our way to saying that our different sort of membership of the EU is not only safeguarded, it's being extended - because not are we out of the euro, out of Schengen, but we're also out of ever closer union too."

  13. Cameron rejects Titanic deckchair analogypublished at 14:56 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    Andrew BridgenImage source, UK Parliament

    It is a tried and tested rhetorical device but that does not stop it being used time and time again. Conservative Andrew Bridgen, the MP for North West Leicestershire, says David Cameron's renegotiation is akin to "rearranging the deck chairs" on the Titanic before it sinks. 

    Quote Message

    The German captain of the ship that is the EU has deliberately steered it into a migration iceberg, with all the watertight doors open. Wouldn't it be better to direct the British people to the available lifeboats while the band is still playing and before the inevitable happens."

    Mr Cameron is clearly amused by what he describes as the MP's "rather complicated analogy" but says he doesn't agree.

    Quote Message

    We have this situation where we are able to have the best of both worlds. Let's keep our borders, let's not let in foreign nationals that do not have a right to be here, something that is strengthened by this agreement. But let's keep the free movement so the British people can live and work in other European countries."

  14. Watch: Nigel Farage says EU 'leave' campaigns should unitepublished at 14:49 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    The Daily Politics

    Media caption,

    UKIP leader says he's "very angry" the two main campaigns seeking EU exit haven't merged

  15. EU should shy away from 'fogging bureaucracy', says Cameronpublished at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    Former Labour minister Ben Bradshaw said major threats from international terrorism and climate change "demand that we work closely and collaboratively with our close neighbours - and not relegate ourselves to a position of isolation and impotence".

    Mr Cameron said he wanted Britain to be able to fix its own problems, but "what matters is - are we more able to deal with these things" by staying in the EU.

    Quote Message

    One of the things Europe need to get right is to get rid of the petty fogging bureaucracy on the small things that infuriate people but don't actually make a difference and focus instead on security and prosperity and jobs - that's the focus."

  16. Tory MP calls for 'open argument, not open warfare'published at 14:47 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    Tory MP Mims DaviesImage source, UK Parliament

    Conservative Mims Davies, the MP for Eastleigh, says both she and her constituents believe aspects of the EU need "serious scrutiny and reform" and she welcomes the chance to consider the package negotiated by the PM. And she makes an appeal for those on different sides of the debate to consider the tone of their arguments to ensure the public is not turned off. 

    Quote Message

    Would the prime minister agree that on all side open argument, rather than open warfare, is what voters will all want."

  17. Cameron pledges not to 'disadvantage' ministers who vote to leave EUpublished at 14:40

    Michael Fabricant

    Conservative Michael Fabricant congratulated the PM for bringing back a deal that "is as good as anyone might have expected and more".

    But he asked the PM for assurances that he would "respect the views of those ministers who might publicly express the opinion that the UK should now leave the EU and that the careers of those ministers in this government won't be jeopardised or threatened as a consequence".

    Mr Cameron replied: "I can certainly give you that assurance."

    He went on to explain that once a deal is agreed, the Cabinet would decide if it could take a recommended position to the British people. If that is to stay in a reformed EU, then ministers who thought differently could campaign in another direction, he said.

    Quote Message

    The government will still have a position - this is not a free for all - it will be a clear government position from which ministers can depart. And they shouldn't suffer disadvantage because they want to take that view."

  18. Tory MP: We are 'mere tenants of our island inheritance'published at 14:35

    Tory MP Richard DraxImage source, UK Parliament

    Some poetic language from Richard Drax as he urges the PM to do all he can to defend the UK's national interests. 

    Quote Message

    Would he agree with me that he, I and this government are nothing more than tenants whose duty, while we serve to protect our island inheritance - that's our democracy, sovereignty and freedom - and we have no right whatsoever to sell it all, let alone cheaply, to a bureaucratic and unaccountable institution like the European Union."

  19. Cameron: Four-month EU campaign 'long enough'published at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    Bob Neil asks a question about protections for the City of London and then the SNP's Peter Grant says a four-month campaign is too short and is designed to mask divisions within the Conservative Party.

    The PM says four months is perfectly long enough and that the public might be "heartily sick" of the issue by then. He suggests that Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon is "applying the thumbscrews" to SNP MPs, including her predecessor Alex Salmond, over the issue of the date of the referendum. 

  20. Watch: Jacob Rees-Mogg says PM has two weeks to salvage reputation as negotiatorpublished at 14:25 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2016

    Media caption,

    Jacob Rees-Mogg: PM has two weeks to salavage reputation as negotiator