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David Cameron faces wrath of party colleagues over deal

British Prime Minister David Cameron faced the wrath of his own side in Parliament on Wednesday, where he stood up to defend a deal to keep Britain in the European Union that was savaged by many of hi

British Prime Minister David Cameron faced the wrath of his own side in Parliament on Wednesday, where he stood up to defend a deal to keep Britain in the European Union that was savaged by many of his fellow Conservatives and the eurosceptic press.

The deal has so far received a warm response from European capitals which must approve it. But at home, it risks reopening a longstanding rift in Mr Cameron’s Conservative Party, which has been plagued by division over Europe for generations.

Former defence secretary Liam Fox, a leading eurosceptic Conservative legislator, told BBC Radio that up to five ministers in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet were certain to back leaving the EU.

Many British newspapers trashed the deal, dubbing it a “farce”, a “joke” or a “delusion”, underlining the struggle Mr Cameron faces to convince doubters inside and outside his party that the plan offers the “best of both worlds” before a referendum on membership which could take place in June.

Mr Cameron has said ministers are free to campaign on either side of the referendum after a deal is reached, but is hoping that leading figures including members of his Cabinet will follow his lead.

Even some of Mr Cameron’s allies have questioned the package of measures offered by Brussels. London’s popular mayor Boris Johnson, a possible Conservative successor to Mr Cameron who has been coy so far about his own position, said: “Most people looking at this will think that there is a lot more to do.”

Britain’s bestselling newspaper, the Sun, said Mr Cameron had done “nothing to halt migrants, nothing to win powers back for Britain”.

“Sorry Prime Minister, but... it stinks,” said the Sun.

Mr Cameron also has to convince other EU leaders that the plan, which offers measures to curb benefits for migrants from other EU states in Britain, will not harm their countries’ interests or cause a voter backlash against them.

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