Gove attacks Cameron’s case for EU as Tory splits deepen

Bloomberg

U.K. Justice Secretary Michael Gove attacked Prime Minister David Cameron’s case for Britain staying in the European Union, demonstrating the depth of divisions in the governing Conservative Party.
Gove, one of Cameron’s closest political allies before the two decided to back different sides in the June 23 referendum, is set to use a speech in London to belittle two of the main gains the prime minister cited from his negotiations with other European leaders before he called the vote.
An opt-out from the EU drive towards “ever closer union,” which Cameron heralded as a major victory, “makes no difference,” Gove will say, according to excerpts of the speech released by the Vote Leave campaign. He also plans to warn that concessions won by Cameron on access to welfare, which the premier claimed would slow immigration to the U.K., won’t work.
With fewer than 10 weeks to go until the plebiscite, both sides of the argument are ramping up their rhetoric over the merits of EU membership. On Monday, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne warned a vote to leave, or Brexit, would cause “permanent” damage to the U.K. economy. Gove responded that a vote to leave is the “safer choice” for Britain.

Hostages
“If we vote to stay, we’re not settling for a secure status quo,” Gove said on BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program ahead of his speech. “We’re voting to be hostages locked in the back of the car driven headlong towards deeper EU integration.”
Polling is inconclusive, with some indicating the vote will be tight, and others showing a lead for the “remain” side. An Orb poll for the Telegraph on Tuesday showed 52 percent of voters plan to opt to remain, with 43 percent choosing to leave. YouGov’s most recent polls show a much narrower margin.
Cameron, who first pledged the referendum as a way of placating Euro-skeptics in his party, known as the Tories, is facing a deepening split. Gove and Mayor of London Boris Johnson have the support of many rank and file lawmakers and party activists for their campaign for a so-called Brexit, while Cameron and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne are leading the attempt to keep Britain in the bloc.
“If we vote to stay in the EU then immigration will continue to increase by hundreds of thousands year on year,” Gove is set to say, according to the prepared remarks. “Over 250,000 people came to Britain from Europe last year. As long as we are in the EU we cannot control our borders and cannot develop an immigration policy which is both truly humane and in our long term economic interests.”

Treasury Document
Leaving the 28-nation EU would be “a galvanizing, liberating, empowering moment of patriotic renewal,” Gove will say, according to the excerpts. He’ll also accuse Cameron’s “Remain” campaign of talking-down Britain to persuade voters to stay in the EU.
The justice secretary will criticize a Treasury document, published on Monday, which analyzed some of the options available to Britain if voters choose to leave the EU.
Quitting the bloc would leave the U.K.’s economic output between 3.8 percent and 7.5 percent lower after 15 years, costing as much as £2,100 per person, the report said.