There has been a globally negative reaction across Britain’s newspaper front pages to the reform proposals aimed at preventing a UK exit from the
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There has been a globally negative reaction across Britain’s newspaper front pages to the reform proposals aimed at preventing a UK exit from the European Union.
Prime Minister David Cameron has said the plan announced yesterday by the European Council president Donald Tusk would deliver the “substantial change” in the areas he is demanding. A UK referendum on continued EU membership could come within months.
But many eurosceptic MPs in Cameron’s Conservative Party say the deal is watered down. Critics of the deal claim that some key pledges, including limits on welfare payments to EU migrants, will be subject to approval by members of the European Parliament.
A quick scan of Britain’s leading newspapers on Wednesday morning will have made difficult reading for Cameron ahead of his defence of the deal in parliament in the afternoon.
The Sun tabloid, referencing popular World War II-based sitcom Dad’s Army, says Cameron has “caved in” over the migrant benefits reform and that Britain will “lose control” of its borders.
Tomorrow's @TheSun #tomorrowspaperstoday #VoteLeave pic.twitter.com/R5yvL4YXQI
— Vote Leave (@vote_leave) February 2, 2016
Unimpressed........... #voteleave #euref #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/E9MZF2q1dj
— Mr Skylord (@mr_skylord) February 3, 2016
Metro tells Cameron EU are joking, adding that Conservative MPs will fight what the paper calls “diluted” reforms.
Tomorrow's @MetroUK front page: EU are joking, Walter under the bridge #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/qHcFrFqzUJ
— Metro (@MetroUK) February 2, 2016
Those thoughts were echoed in the Daily Express, which laments that “Brussels [will] carry on calling the shots.”
Wednesday's Daily Express front page:
Cameron's EU deal is a joke#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #euref pic.twitter.com/i4Dn2PTVWw— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) February 2, 2016
Similarly, the headline in The Times highlights one of the main points in the reform deal that eurosceptics are likely to use in their campaign for the UK to quit the EU, namely that Brussels will have the final say.
Wednesday's Times:
Brussels will have right to reject benefit curbs#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #euref pic.twitter.com/6J7pOcwcVU— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) February 2, 2016
The Times goes on to dismiss Tusk’s proposed document as “little of substance”, and that the fact that it was Tusk – and not the British government – who drafted it “betrays a depressing truth about this vaunted renegotiation.”
.@TheTimes is not much more impressed: https://t.co/DyXgPqTM7O (£) #tomorrowspaperstoday #VoteLeave pic.twitter.com/S7Z9WXPrrk
— Vote Leave (@vote_leave) February 2, 2016
The right-wing Daily Mail accused Cameron of “selling Britain short”.
Wednesday's Daily Mail front page:
The Great Delusion#bbcpapers #euref pic.twitter.com/RQetqoIzjH
— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) February 2, 2016
The Daily Telegraph, usually a defender of Cameron’s Conservatives focused on the internal struggle the prime minister faces from within his own party.
Wednesday's Telegraph front page:
Ministers to defy PM on Europe#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #euref pic.twitter.com/UVIvVUd53q— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) February 2, 2016
Support from unexpected quarters
In fact it was left to the newspapers typically most critical of Cameron and the Conservative Party to provide any leniency for the prime minister.
The Daily Mirror kept its language neutral, simply calling the deal a “gamble”.
Wednesday's Daily Mirror front page:
Cam's great EU gamble#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #euref pic.twitter.com/D7XjsrIj28— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) February 2, 2016
The i newspaper essentially presented the deal’s points as Cameron had set them out.
Wednesday's i front page:
Here’s the deal with Europe#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #euref pic.twitter.com/s1sLJIzZDw— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) February 2, 2016
And The Guardian led with one of the few plus points for Cameron this morning: his Home Secretary Teresa May is set to support what she calls a “basis for a deal”, having previously voiced doubts over Britain’s future in the EU.
Wednesday's Guardian front page:
Cameron wins May’s backing over Europe#tomorrowspaperstoday #BBCPapers pic.twitter.com/cbTLzSSTQ3— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) February 2, 2016
A further article inside the Guardian warns that Britain could become the “dirty man of Europe” with “filthy beaches, foul air and weak conservation laws” if it leaves the EU.