David Cameron today gave a major concession to Eurosceptic Cabinet ministers just minutes before sitting down to talks with suspected “Out” campaigner Iain Duncan Smith.
Downing Street announced that he is willing to hold a Cabinet on Friday afternoon or Saturday if a deal on reforms is agreed at a two-day summit in Brussels starting Thursday.
The announcement follows weeks of complaints from Out campaigners that Mr Cameron seemed to be giving himself a clear run over the weekend to trumpet the deal as a success, while other members of the Cabinet would be gagged by collective responsibility.
Timing of the first Cabinet after the deal is critical because under rules issued by No 10 ministers are not allowed to criticise any deal until it has been considered by Mr Cameron’s team.
The issue came to a head when it emerged that Mr Cameron is booked to appear on the BBC’s Marr programme on Sunday morning. Today’s announcement means that Mr Duncan Smith or another big name Eurosceptic will be free to go on the weekend media as well.
A Downing Street source said at 1.10pm: "If Friday's European Council finishes in time, the PM will hold a Cabinet on Friday afternoon."
The Evening Standard later learned that Mr Duncan Smith was due to be holding a meeting with Mr Cameron at 1.30pm when the issue was almost certain to be raised by him. One source said: “Iain is persuasive!” But a No 10 senior source insisted: “It was decided before.”
The row over Cabinet timing was revealed by the Evening Standard on January 12.
