Brexit Referendum Set For June 23rd, Public Opinion Split

David Cameron has set Thursday June 23 as the date for the historic referendum on whether Britain should leave the EU, after urging his deeply divided cabinet to support the package of reforms he secured in Brussels.

The British prime minister made his historic announcement outside Downing Street after briefing the cabinet where he said he would be campaigning to remain in a reformed EU – and described the vote as one of the biggest decisions “in our lifetimes”.

The referendum date announcement came after renegotiations on the UK’s relationship with Europe were finalized on Friday night after an intense two-day summit.

The agreement, which will take effect immediately if the UK votes to remain in the EU, include changes to migrant welfare payments, safeguards for Britain’s financial services and making it easier to block unwanted EU regulations.

MPs Divided

Ministers were immediately divided up into the two sides of the agreement but while British opinion polls showing a majority of roughly 50% in support for “Brexit” in the June referendum, expert predictions point to Britain will not voting to leave the EU.

The Labour Party, SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems are in favor of staying in. The Conservative party seems to be divided with some MKs announcing their intention to back the prime minister and others, including Mr. Cameron’s long-time ally, Justice Secretary Michael Gove, saying they will leave the campaign.

Mr. Gove said it was “the most difficult decision” of his political life, but said that if he had campaigned alongside Mr. Cameron for Britain to remain in the EU he would “not be true to my convictions or my country”.