Could Britain end up leaving the EU? The key questions

Written by Charles Grant, 11 January 2013

Charles Grant, director of the CER argues that EU governments will not grant treaty opt-outs to Britain because of fears that it could gain "an unfair competitive advantage" within the single market and encourage other countries to follow Britain's pick-and-mix example.

Mr Grant sees a scenario in which Mr Cameron returns from negotiations with a package that fails to placate his eurosceptics, who embark on a campaign of withdrawal in the referendum campaign. ...Mr Grant believes that even if the prime minister fails to achieve a breakthrough deal in negotiations after victory at the next election, a pro-EU campaign led by the Labour and Liberal Democrat could succeed. But he says it could be more difficult for Labour, if it wins the 2015 election, to triumph in a referendum - assuming it follows Mr Cameron's example and agrees to hold one. This is partly because Labour is not seeking a new deal with the EU.

Link to press quote:
http://www.channel4.com/news/could-britain-end-up-leaving-the-eu