Cameron defends EU vote comments

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As she begins a four-day visit to the United States, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon dropped in to a school in Brooklyn to learn how standards in Scottish schools could be improved.

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Children's fancy dress costumes should be subject to tougher fire safety regulations, MPs say.

A Parliamentary petition says classifying the outfits as clothing rather than toys would "significantly reduce the risk" of accidents.

The MPs say there has been an increase in the number of children hospitalised from costumes catching fire.

Read more here.

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Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed a statement in the final G7 summit communique which calls for all sides in the Ukraine conflict to respect ceasefire deals agreed in the Belarus capital, Minsk.

He said: "The G7 is united on what needs to happen next to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine. 

"Existing sanctions must remain is place until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented. This will require action from both Ukraine and Russia. 

"That's why it's vital we ensure (Ukrainian) President Poroshenko's government has the support needed to deliver the necessary political and economic reforms. But we must not forget that the Ukrainians are the victims, not the aggressors." 

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Former journalist Baroness Wheatcroft brought a splash of colour to the House of Lords this afternoon. She wore the vibrant coat to the reading of The Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill. 

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Former Conservative cabinet minister Owen Paterson says that normal political activity should effectively be "suspended" in the run-up to the European referendum to ensure the British public is not bombarded with pro-EU information.

He tells the BBC News Channel he would back a "purdah period" of longer than a month, restricting what the government, councils and the European Union could announce in the way of policy that was likely to have any bearing on the vote. 

There need to be "fair arrangements on money and fair arrangements on the public distribution of information" in the referendum or else it will a leave a "very sour taste", he says.

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Conservative MP John Redwood says he "never misunderstood" David Cameron over the issue of Europe and ministerial responsibilities . 

He tells the BBC the prime minister had an "absolute right" to expect a "cohesive and unified" party behind him during negotiations on the UK's membership of the EU. 

He suggests it could be a "different" story during the referendum campaign itself but this depends entirely on what kind of deal Mr Cameron comes back with. The problem could lie, he says, if the outcome of the negotiations is "muddled". 

Mr Redwood also says a new group of Tory MPs urging an "ambitious" re-negotiation could have the support of 200 colleagues, arguing that the UK must be free in future to negotiate its own trade deal with the likes of India, China and the United States.

Former chief whip Andrew Mitchell says David Cameron's position on allowing a free vote on whether to stay in the European Union is now "fairly clear" and that there is "an acceptance of the importance of not whipping people on the referendum".

Mr Mitchell added: "It's important everyone supports the prime minister's renegotiation strategy - he's very good at this sort of thing - and I expect these negotiations to go extremely well.

"But then people should be able to follow their convictions and their conscience on how they campaign and how they vote and I think many of us have yet to make up our minds on how we would vote in that referendum - it would depend on the renegotiation. 

"But once the renegotiation is out of the way it should be a genuine referendum where every voice can be heard and then the British public can make up their minds."

What is it about the Conservative Party and the European Union? What is it that prompts such passion, such muddle and - on occasion - such bitterness?  

The relationship between Britain and the EU tore the Conservatives apart for years in government and in opposition.

David Cameron was elected leader 10 years ago on a promise to stop his party banging on about Europe. A decade on, the prime minister has got his drum sticks out and is banging his way around Europe. But not all his party is marching to his beat.

More from James here.

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Grant Shapps has said allegations made about his Wikipedia entry show that the media should vet its sources more carefully. 

Wikipedia has censured a volunteer administrator, who claimed that an account "either run by Shapps directly" or by someone else "but under his clear direction" was used to alter Mr Shapps' entry on the website. 

The Conservative MP said: "Wikipedia's investigation has resulted in the strong disciplinary action now being taken. 

"However, the failure of various media outlets to check even basic facts meant that this false and damaging story ran for an entire day during the general election campaign. 

"My hope is that this case serves as a reminder that both the source, as well as the content of a story, should be carefully checked before it is broadcast in future."

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A referendum on UK membership of the European Union should not be held on the same day as the assembly elections in 2016, the Welsh government has said.

There is speculation the date in May is being considered by the UK government.

A spokesman for Labour's First Minister Carwyn Jones claimed it would limit the ability of pro-EU parties to have a "genuine referendum strategy".

Plaid Cymru peer Lord Elis-Thomas broke ranks with his party on Sunday by saying the move could boost turnout.

Read more here.

The Scotland Bill debate is going to last for four days. David Mundell says that all angles and all parties will be listened to.

He has paid tribute to the 10 members of the Smith Commission, saying they represented their parties constructively.

He also thanked Lord Smith of Kelvin, who chaired the Commission, and everyone who submitted views to the Commission.

More from the House of Commons.The Scotland Bill is being debated on a "line-by-line basis", says Scottish Secretary David Mundell. 

The SNP's Ian Blackford says that the election of 56 SNP MPs at the general election proves that the people of Scotland want a "powerhouse parliament with full economic powers". 

David Mundell once again replies that the SNP signed up to the Smith Commission proposals after last year's referendum. An amendment to the Bill tabled by the SNP was not selected for debate.

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Scottish Secretary David Mundell tells the House that the Scotland Bill delivers in full the Smith Commission on more devolved powers. 

His "feet will be put to the fire" on this important legislation. But the SNP says the Bill falls short in almost every way. 

MPs are now debating the Scotland Bill at its second reading in the House of Commons. There is full coverage of that here .

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A bit more on David Cameron's comments on the UK's role in global affairs. He said it was yet to be decided whether future defence spending would meet the Nato target of 2% of GDP. 

"The idea that Britain is shrinking its role in the world when our flagship is saving lives in the Mediterranean, when we are training the Iraqi army, training Afghan officers, our jets are flying air patrolling missions over the Baltic, our submarines are silently patrolling the seas giving us a nuclear deterrent 365 days of the year, we're ordering two of the largest aircraft carriers that the Navy has ever had.... 

"The idea that this £160bn equipment budget that we protected by inflation, that that represents strategic shrinkage, I think is nonsense."

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The government hopes to conclude its latest strategic defence and security review by the end of the year, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said.

Addressing MPs in Parliament, Mr Fallon said the process was under way.

Read the full story here.

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Here's our latest story on Cameron's press conference at the G7 summit. To recap, he's denied saying ministers will be forced to back him in the EU referendum or quit their jobs.

The PM had told journalists everyone in government had "signed up" to his plans as set out in the Tory manifesto. 

Read the full story here.

"I think what we have seen today is a foretaste of the tensions that may well explode once we really get down to this whole process," says Norman Smith. 

"We got a taste of that this morning from the reaction of people like David Davis, Andrew Mitchell, who were out of the blocks early on to say it is just not acceptable to insist on government unity on an issue which many of them regard almost as more important than the party - they put the country before the party."

He adds: "You just sense that maybe he has decided to back off and round on we journalists at the same time because of the reaction of Eurosceptics."

It could be a "very difficult and tense process" in the run up to the referendum, predicts Norman.

On the Tories' squabbles over Europe, Norman Smith says there has either been "an almighty journalistic foul-up or an almighty political retreat".

The prime minister says he was misunderstood by journalists when he briefed them yesterday - that he was not, in fact, insisting ministers would have to back him during the referendum campaign, but instead during the renegotiation process. 

"Many Eurosceptic Tory MPs" are taking the view that Mr Cameron has "been forced to go into reverse pretty smartly" after they "reacted with fury to those reports", says the BBC's assistant political editor.

"They are of the view that because they came out so strongly, Mr Cameron has now decided to back off and blame the journalists for getting it wrong," added our correspondent.

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An SNP MP has been given a ticking off in the House of Commons for apparently reading a newspaper. 

Commons Speaker John Bercow told John Nicolson, who is the MP for East Dunbartonshire, that the MP was not in a "Bearsden reading room" - a reference to a town in his constituency. 

Mr Bercow said the MP was a "literate fellow" but the Commons chamber was not the place to catch up on his reading. 

The light-hearted remark drew laughter from other MPs in the House - many of whom haven't been too enamoured with the conduct of the new group of SNP MPs. 

Defence questions is close to winding up. It has been a fairly hostile session for Michael Fallon, who has encountered quite a bit of friendly fire from Tory MPs on defence budgets as well as attacks from Labour and the SNP. Labour's Angela Smith suggests the US now refers to the UK as "Great Shrinking Britain" and says this is illustrated by the French navy having to "plug gaps" in British maritime operations in the Gulf. Mr Fallon rejects this, saying the UK, France and Norway are conducting joint operations in the region, fulfilling the terms of their defence alliance. 

With the G7 meeting in Germany, and leaders seen enjoying Bavarian hospitality, Jo Coburn looks at a clip of the German satirical programme heute-show.

And she got a reaction from comedian Henning Wehn, the German 'comedy ambassador to London', and her panel of three MPs: Conservative Oliver Dowden, Jo Stevens for Labour, and the SNP's Michelle Thomson about UK-Germany relations.

Watch the clip

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Peter Tatchell says he "can understand why" London Pride organisers have banned UKIP from taking part in the annual march.

He claimed the political party was "not a friend of the LGBTQ community" when Jo Coburn asked him about its stance over gay rights and equal marriage. Watch a clip

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Scottish Labour leadership candidate Kezia Dugdale has given a rather different interview for Buzzfeed - all of her answers had to be in emojis. You can read it here.

Brits will get a choice in a referendum sometime before the end of 2017, but reporter Ellie Price asked the people of Bromley to vote in the Daily Politics mood box, a very unscientific test with a plastic bin and balls. Watch her film

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Parliamentary Labour Party hustings took place over lunchtime today. Here are a few things that came out of the event. 

David Cameron said he wanted to restate his position - which he did several times during the press conference - after reading the coverage of his comments on the referendum. 

Quote Message: What I said is if you want to be part of the government you have to take the view that we are engaged in an exercise of renegotiation to have a referendum that will lead to a successful outcome. That is what I said. I feel that there was a misinterpretation which is why I woke up and read the newspapers and thought 'I will repeat what I said and make that very clear'."

What I said is if you want to be part of the government you have to take the view that we are engaged in an exercise of renegotiation to have a referendum that will lead to a successful outcome. That is what I said. I feel that there was a misinterpretation which is why I woke up and read the newspapers and thought 'I will repeat what I said and make that very clear'."

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In the Commons Michael Fallon is fielding questions from Tory MPs concerned about defence spending and whether the UK will continue to meet the 2% target expected of Nato members. He insists that the £500m his department has been asked to cut from its budget this year will have no effect on current operations, manpower numbers or from the UK's capacity to meet the Nato commitment. Mr Fallon points out that while the UK is meeting the 2% target, 20 out of Nato's 28 members currently spend less than 1.5% of their GDP on defence while seven spend less than 1%. 

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During the conference, David Cameron was asked by a member of the press about Britain's shrinking its role in the world. He said such an idea was "nonsense". 

Here are some full quotes from Prime Minister David Cameron, the conference having just finished.

"It is clear to me that what I said yesterday was misinterpreted. I was clearly referring to the process of renegotiation. 

 "But the point is this. I have always said what I want is an outcome for Britain that keeps us in a reformed EU. 

"But I have also said we don't know the outcome of these negotiations, which is why I have always said I rule nothing out. Therefore it would be wrong to answer hypothetical questions. 

"I know that can be frustrating. I know you want to jump to the end of the process and have all the questions answered now about the end of that process. 

"That is not going to be possible. You are going to have to take this stage by stage, step by step and you will get the answers."

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The prime minister finishes his press conference by telling journalists he hopes they have "enjoyed the mountain air" in Bavaria. More reaction to follow. 

David Cameron has been talking about comments he'd made on the Andrew Marr show regarding a free vote. He said he was interrupted and unable to make his points clearly. The editor of BBC Radio 4's World at One has tweeted the transcript. 

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 The government won't be a "bystander" but will have a "clear view" on the issue. "If you're part of the government, you're part of the team" working towards renegotiation, says Mr Cameron.    

Asked if he had made up his mind as to whether or not there would be a free vote, Mr Cameron said at the moment he did not know what the outcome of the negotiations would be yet. 

He repeated "I rule nothing out". The team is committed to the process, added Cameron, telling journalists they had to be "patient". 

The prime minister has also spoken about the aims of the UN conference which will take place in Paris in September. Leaders will set goals to help eradicate extreme poverty and also for an "ambitious" global climate deal.

David Cameron says there is "real unity" behind a "renegotiation strategy" which is "right for the country". It will be for the British public to decide, not politicians, adds Mr Cameron who says he was surprised by the headlines this morning after his comments yesterday.

Taking his first question, Mr Cameron stresses that what he said yesterday on ministers' voting in the EU referendum was misinterpreted. He says it will be taken "stage by stage, step by step". 

"Fresh from the election," Mr Cameron said he was able to say that "Britain is back" and delivering "the security and prosperity" that the UK deserves.

The prime minister, speaking at the G7, has moved on to what he describes as the "biggest challenge" - extremism and violence. He says leaders have discussed how to tackle the threat, primarily through a "three-pronged strategy" in Iraq, which includes helping Iraqi troops. 

Mr Fallon tells MPs that the defence review has already begun and will be concluded by the end of the year. But Labour's Vernon Coaker suggests the process is shrouded in secrecy and there needs to be a "wide-ranging debate and discussion" about capability gaps, citing what he says are the lack of maritime patrol aircrafts. 

Proceedings are under way in the House of Commons, with Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and his team of ministers answering questions from MPs. A number of Tory MPs are worried about the upcoming strategic defence review, Sir Gerald Howarth warning that the world "is much more dangerous" than in 2010, when the last review was held, and he would be "alarmed" if it was driven by the Treasury. But Mr Fallon insists the process will be led by his department. He tells MPs that many of the last review's conclusions "still hold good" but that there will be a focus on future threats and the fallout from the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

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David Cameron says that "security and prosperity" are the issues that are most important to "the people back at home". 

"Here at this summit, we have made progress on both," he said, adding that economic growth can be boosted by fighting corruption, building trade deals and green growth.

A few minutes later than expected, Prime Minister David Cameron's press conference at the G7 summit in Schloss Elmau is under way now - you can watch it by clicking on the live coverage tab.

David Cameron has met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi for one-on-one talks in Schloss Elmau. Mr Cameron told him:

Quote Message: We really wish you well in the work you are doing building a new Iraq. Britain is right behind you. The help we are giving you with your military is a sign of that. I really look forward today to hearing how you are bringing together all Iraqis in fighting the scourge of terrorism - a menace to your country, but a menace to my country as well. We are partners in this struggle."

We really wish you well in the work you are doing building a new Iraq. Britain is right behind you. The help we are giving you with your military is a sign of that. I really look forward today to hearing how you are bringing together all Iraqis in fighting the scourge of terrorism - a menace to your country, but a menace to my country as well. We are partners in this struggle."

Mr Cameron had announced yesterday that 125 army personnel would be deployed to Iraq in response to a request from his Iraqi counterpart.  

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Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn makes the case for 16 and 17-year-olds to be given the vote in the upcoming EU referendum.

In a blog post for the Huffington Post, the Leeds Central MP says the vote will have a "huge impact" on the UK's future and argues that younger people should be "given a say" in the decision.

David Cameron has pledged to hold an in/out referendum on the UK's EU membership by 2017. The government has ruled out extending the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds.

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UK Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to hold his G7 press conference any minute now... you can watch it by clicking on the live tab above, or follow our text commentary.

Times columnist Tim Montgomerie welcomes Downing Street's "clarification" over ministers' voting rights on the EU referendum. He says No 10 realised they made a mistake, because of the negative reaction from Conservative MPs to the PM's initial remark.

If David Cameron had insisted on forcing ministers to vote with him or leave the government there could have been resignations "running into double figures" which would be "disastrous" for a party that only has a majority of 12, he says, adding that David Cameron "cannot afford to create division".

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Former England footballer Sol Campbell has confirmed his intention to become the next mayor of London.

The ex-Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur defender said he could challenge for the Conservative nomination. He said he wanted to "change London for everybody" but acknowledged he would not be a "frontrunner".

Campbell, 40, will take part in a hustings event with other candidates for the Tory nomination on 4 July.

David Cameron will be speaking at the G7 summit from about 14:30 BST. It comes as Downing Street denies the PM gave ministers an ultimatum to back him in the upcoming EU referendum or resign.We'll bring you the key lines from his speech as it unfolds.

Also in half an hour, MPs begin their business for the week, starting with an hour-long questioning of defence ministers followed by a general debate on the aims and principles of the Scotland Bill, which promises revenue-raising powers for the Scottish Parliament.

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What is it about the Conservative Party and the European Union? What is it that prompts such passion, such muddle and - on occasion - such bitterness?

The relationship between Britain and the EU tore the Conservatives apart for years in government and in opposition.

David Cameron was elected leader 10 years ago on a promise to stop his party banging on about Europe. A decade on the prime minister has got his drum sticks out and is banging his way around Europe. But not all his party is marching to his beat.

Read more from James here.

The Spectator's Alex Massie predicts that the EU referendum "will all end badly", for David Cameron, his reputation and his place in history.

He foresees the party splitting over the issue, with defections to UKIP and the Conservatives ending up as a minority government.

Quote Message: As legacies go, presiding over a historic split in the Tory party is quite something. To do so without even settling the central issue at hand is also quite something. Yet this is what Cameron risks; this in fact is what he all but promises. The Tory party cannot simultaneously be in favour of Britain being a member of the European Union and in favour of leaving it. These horses must eventually gallop in different directions."

As legacies go, presiding over a historic split in the Tory party is quite something. To do so without even settling the central issue at hand is also quite something. Yet this is what Cameron risks; this in fact is what he all but promises. The Tory party cannot simultaneously be in favour of Britain being a member of the European Union and in favour of leaving it. These horses must eventually gallop in different directions."

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Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi says he and other backbenchers should be free to campaign on either side during the Europe referendum, acknowledging the reality that some of his colleagues "don't see the point" of being part of the European Union. Asked about the position of ministers, he says that should be "up to the government and the cabinet". It will be the public who will decide the outcome not politicians, he adds, saying the "buck stops with them". 

Tom Pursglove, MP for Corby, tells the World at One: "If we don't get back to free trade and a common market, I will vote to leave."

Conservative MP David Davis says he thinks the Downing Street change over the restrictions on ministers during the EU referendum may have been prompted by the anger expressed by the party's MPs:

Quote Message: I think what may have happened is they've seen the sharpness of the reaction and adjusted accordingly. I don't blame them for that - that's very sensible. The last thing we want is a civil war in the Tory party over Europe. We want to have a decent debate, an intelligent debate, and a sensible decision by the whole British public."

I think what may have happened is they've seen the sharpness of the reaction and adjusted accordingly. I don't blame them for that - that's very sensible. The last thing we want is a civil war in the Tory party over Europe. We want to have a decent debate, an intelligent debate, and a sensible decision by the whole British public."

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Downing Street has denied that David Cameron has ordered his ministers to back him in the EU referendum or leave the government.

The PM had told journalists everyone in government had "signed up" to his plans as set out in the Tory manifesto.

This led to criticism from some Conservative MPs, who said ministers should be free to vote as they wish.

But Mr Cameron's spokeswoman said reporters at the G7 Summit in Germany had "over interpreted his remarks".

The full story can be found here.

Human rights activist Peter Tatchell has been talking about Lib Dem leadership hopeful Tim Farron's comments to the Sunday Politics yesterday. 

On the programme, Mr Farron had defended his record on equality and abortion laws. In answering, he said Mr Tatchell had been on the same side as him.

Mr Farron has now apologised if he "misremembered" Mr Tatchell's position.

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UKIP's Mark Reckless says of the EU referendum: "UKIP want to be part of that out campaign - we don't want to dominate."

He believes that UKIP leader Nigel Farage "should have an important role in that" but that the party wants to bring "as many people as possible into what we hope will be a successful campaign". 

Asked who should lead the 'out' campaign, he said he did not yet know. 

Tory MEP David Campbell Bannerman, a member of the newly-formed Conservatives for Britain, says he is "right behind" the government and "right behind" the prime minister. He says talk of forced resignations is "premature" as "we will have to see what renegotiation brings". 

However, he says it "would be better and healthier for ministers" to have a free vote but that he supports cabinet responsibility during the renegotiation process. Conservatives for Britain would lead the campaign for Britain to quit the EU if David Cameron fails to secure radical reforms. 

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Wikipedia has censured the administrator who accused Conservative MP Grant Shapps of editing his own entry on the website and that of Cabinet ministers.

In April, an administrator known as "Chase me ladies, I'm the Cavalry" told the Guardian that Wikipedia had barred a user called "Contribsx" because the account had been used to make changes to Mr Shapps' profile.

The administrator told the paper they believed the account was "either run by Shapps directly" or by someone else "but under his clear direction".

Wikipedia's arbitration and audit committees have concluded there "does not appear to be a major breach of policy" but the administrator gave the appearance that Wikipedia's monitoring tools were being used to  "exert political or social control".

It was also found that the administrator was "unable to provide sufficient justification" for using the monitoring tools, and "did not take adequate steps" before making the information public to make sure that the release of the information was "seen as neutral and unbiased".

Mr Shapps consistently denied the allegations made by "Chase me ladies", describing them as "categorically false and defamatory".

But Mr Hosie said that Mr Stewart's view was "completely wrong". 

"This does not give us a powerhouse parliament," he said. "These are very modest measures."

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The SNP's Stewart Hosie and Conservative Iain Stewart are discussing the Scotland Bill on the Daily Politics this lunchtime. 

Mr Stewart says that "the proposals in the Scotland Bill would make the Scottish parliament one of the most powerful devolved parliaments anywhere in the world". 

Scotland would "control a significant proportion of its own revenues" and that "if it wishes to increase its own spending, it would have the powers to do that".

Asked if it would implement the proposals of the Smith commission, he says yes. 

Members of the cabinet should be given a free vote on whether the UK should stay in the EU if the prime minister's attempt to repatriate powers "fall short", former minister Henry Bellingham has said.

The Tory MP for North West Norfolk says if David Cameron achieves little more than "window dressing" or a "face-saving package", ministers should be free to vote according to their conscience. 

"It is after all going to be a free vote for MPs in the House," he said. "It should be a free vote for ministers as well."

Downing Street has accused reporters of "wrongly" reporting that he would demand ministers support him during an EU referendum campaign.

Number 10 said journalists at the G7 summit had "over-interpreted" his remarks.

Downing Street said the prime minister was only referring to ministers having to support the government during the renegotiation process. Number 10 declined to speculate on what the Prime Minister's position would be during the referendum campaign itself. 

Pressed over whether the PM would expect minsters to support the government position during the referendum campaign, Mr Cameron's spokeswoman said: "We are not getting into that. That is for further down the road." 

Asked about whether the PM would allow a free vote or insist on collective responsibility over the government's position, the spokeswoman repeatedly stressed these were hypothetical questions which she would not answer. 

"There is a clear approach on renegotiation," she said. "The prime minister has not talked beyond that."

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Ahead of MPs debating the second reading of the Scotland Bill, the SNP's Stewart Hosie and Conservative Iain Stewart join Jo Coburn on Monday's Daily Politics.

And there will be a debate on the EU referendum campaign with UKIP's Mark Reckless (above), who used to be a Conservative, and Tory MEP David Campbell Bannerman (top), who was previously in UKIP.

The Financial Times' Beth Rigby and Torcuil Crichton from the Scottish Daily Record will look ahead to the week. Later in the programme, there will be reaction from a panel of MPs: Conservative Oliver Dowden, Jo Stevens for Labour, and the SNP's Michelle Thomson.

And the German "comedy ambassador to London" Henning Wehn will talk satire in his home nation, as G7 leaders meet in the Alps.

Viewers on the desktop site can watch the programme via the Live Coverage tab above.

Boris Johnson says the prime minister should strike while the iron's hot and forge ahead with EU reform following the party's victory in the general election. 

Writing in the Telegraph, he says: "My friends, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"This is the first time in my adult existence that Britain is leading a campaign for change and reform in the EU that is backed up by the prospect of an in-out referendum. 

"We cannot be half-hearted; we cannot just throw this chance away. Now is the time to rev up our engines, and fan out through the gap. It is clear that David Cameron is already making the running in Europe."

Conservative PartyCopyright: Conservative Party

Former Conservative chief whip Andrew Mitchell says Prime Minister David Cameron should allow Tory ministers a free vote. He told the Guardian:

Quote Message: My strong advice to the prime minister would be to let ministers campaign and vote as their conscience and their convictions dictate. Not to do so will put too much pressure on the parliamentary party and the lid could blow off."

My strong advice to the prime minister would be to let ministers campaign and vote as their conscience and their convictions dictate. Not to do so will put too much pressure on the parliamentary party and the lid could blow off."

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Tim Loughton, co-chair of the Conservative Fresh Start group calling for EU reform, said the party needed to be "focusing on getting the best possible deal" for reform and not saying Tory ministers had to "vote for it regardless".

He said it would be wrong to "shackle" Conservative ministers and MPs when it comes to the EU referendum vote and that they needed to "decide individually" if the best possible deal for Britain has been achieved.

"We should be given a free vote like everyone else in the country," the former children's minister added.

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Boris Johnson says he is confident David Cameron will be successful in his EU negotiations - but that "if he doesn't get the deal he wants", then it has to be open to Britain that there is an "alternative future".

Mr Cameron has said the government will not be neutral in the referendum on Britain's membership, which will be held after he renegotiates the nation's relationship with the EU.

Mr Johnson says that does not automatically mean the government would support staying in the EU:

Quote Message: If he doesn't get the reform that he wants in Brussels, and I think it's very very very very unlikely but if he were to fail in that ambition, then clearly he would be recommending a no to the British public I would imagine. It cannot be true that we're going into the negotiation signed up automatically to say yes to whatever the outcome is. It can't be that that is the British negotiating position... it's got to be open to Britain to decide there is an alternative future and there could well be an alternative future."

If he doesn't get the reform that he wants in Brussels, and I think it's very very very very unlikely but if he were to fail in that ambition, then clearly he would be recommending a no to the British public I would imagine. It cannot be true that we're going into the negotiation signed up automatically to say yes to whatever the outcome is. It can't be that that is the British negotiating position... it's got to be open to Britain to decide there is an alternative future and there could well be an alternative future."

The government is unlikely to succeed in its aim of running a budget surplus by the end of the current parliament, ratings agency Moody's has said. 

It also says that if the 2017 In/Out referendum planned by the government leads to the UK leaving the European Union, it will hurt economic growth and put the country at risk of a ratings downgrade. 

Read more on our business live page here .

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Jeremy Corbyn says there has "never been a more important time" to rebuild the Labour Party. 

The Labour leadership contender, writing in the Guardian, says:

Quote Message: The reason I am standing in the Labour leadership election is because I believe we should be more aspirational about closing the huge inequality gap in Britain, ensuring everyone is decently housed, and that the minimum wage rises to become a fair living wage."

The reason I am standing in the Labour leadership election is because I believe we should be more aspirational about closing the huge inequality gap in Britain, ensuring everyone is decently housed, and that the minimum wage rises to become a fair living wage."

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There is a second reading for the Scotland Bill in the House of Commons later. MPs will consider, and vote on, plans to devolve more powers to Scotland. 

The bill follows the recommendations of the Smith Commission, which was set up after the independence referendum.

It would give Holyrood control over income tax rates and bands, a half share in VAT revenues and a greater say over welfare powers in Scotland.

The SNP say the bill falls short in almost every way.

Read more here.

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Former Conservative Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine has been speaking to the BBC about the EU referendum. 

Talking to 5 live's John Pienaar on Sunday he said the ministers had to toe the government line on the EU to avoid "absolute chaos". 

He said the country could not be governed unless ministers had a "clear view" that the public could "support collectively".

Listen here. 

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Not only has Ed Miliband had Harriet Harman's comments to contend with this morning, but shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt has told the Guardian the former Labour leader "allowed himself to be perceived as uninterested in schools policy". 

This, writes Sebastian Payne in the Spectator, amounts to "kicking Miliband when he is down". 

 Mr Hunt says Labour is in the process of rethinking its strategy and adds: "Education has to be a part of that inquest, because we signally failed to use the potency of education policy – its focus on the future, its capacity to craft a different society, its centrality to wealth creation and work – to offer a compelling enough vision of a Labour Britain."

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Fancy hearing stats about the G7 summit in Germany? Well luckily for you, BBC assistant editor Norman Smith has been giving the Victoria Derbyshire programme some figures. 

He says there are 10 miles of barbed wire at the site with some 17-18,000 police officers patrolling to keep the leaders safe. The cost of setting up such an event is between £100m and £145m and it is thought it will have attracted some 8,000 protesters.

Because of this, he and the media are being "helicoptered to work" from the media centre to the "Teutonic castle" of Schloss Elmau where the talks are taking place. It makes a change from taking the 134 bus, our correspondent adds.

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Labour's interim leader Harriet Harman, in an interview with the Independent, says that some of the party's supporters were glad they had not won the election.

Post-election focus groups spoke to one supporter who said they were "a little bit disappointed and a little bit relieved" about the result - with that view echoed across the country, the newspaper said.

Labour put across the "wrong message" in its campaign, with doubts about economic credibility and the leadership of Ed Miliband costing votes, said Ms Harman.

She has commissioned Deborah Mattinson, who worked as Gordon Brown’s pollster, to find out exactly why voters had turned against the party. 

Quote Message: It is really important for the party that it is not defensive about the past but is absolutely honest and clear-eyed and faces up to the truth of what people are saying.” from Harriet Harman

It is really important for the party that it is not defensive about the past but is absolutely honest and clear-eyed and faces up to the truth of what people are saying.”

If you want to know more about the planned EU referendum, there's a handy BBC guide here .

Could David Cameron avoid a difficult row over Europe if there is no free vote? 

Isabel Hardman thinks so. She writes that "there is still a chance that the Tory leader may have a plan to reunite the party after the vote":

Quote Message: He could also make clear, in private, to ministers with an ‘out’ stance that yes, they must resign from the government, but that they will be welcomed back into the government after the referendum."

He could also make clear, in private, to ministers with an ‘out’ stance that yes, they must resign from the government, but that they will be welcomed back into the government after the referendum."

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Sol Campbell has confirmed he intends to run for Mayor of London. The former England footballer will be speaking at a hustings next month alongside rivals in the contest to be the Conservative candidate. 

Campbell, who played for Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, admitted he would not be a "frontrunner" in the race but that he wanted to "change London for everybody". 

He campaigned with Tory candidates in the run-up to the general election but had ruled out standing as an MP himself, saying his "ambitions lie elsewhere".

Quote Message: I bring something new to the table. This is a whole new road for me, something I can get my teeth into."

I bring something new to the table. This is a whole new road for me, something I can get my teeth into."

Conservative Home editor Paul Goodman says there have to be big changes for pollsters in the next election - after their failure to predict last month's result. 

He writes: "The pollsters may have a good EU referendum campaign, or a Scottish election next year.  But even if this is so, I suspect that the terms of trade for the 2020 election will be different." 

He adds: "So instead of polls driving coverage, at least to the same degree, there will be… what?  No-one can know.  Perhaps – who can say? – discussion and debate about policy will come to the fore. The future is mist."

David Cameron said his clear aim was to re-negotiate, get a deal and then recommend Britain stays in the EU. If successful in the negotiations, he said, then the government would not remain neutral about the deal. 

It's not a sort of "on the one hand... on the other hand" approach, Mr Cameron told reporters.

Asked if that meant ministers who wanted to campaign against any deal would have to resign, he said: "Everyone in government has signed up to the programme as set out in the Conservative manifesto."

Downing Street insists Mr Cameron is ruling nothing out - but his critics will view his stance as further evidence  that he is determined to keep Britain in the EU. 

To add to their suspicions, President Obama - following talks with the prime minister last night - said he looked forward to Britain staying in the EU and exerting a positive influence in Europe.    

The Herald has a story about Nicola Sturgeon's appearance on US news programme The Daily Show this evening. 

It says the SNP leader was originally billed as being a comedian on the show's website. She will no doubt be relieved that has now been corrected  ahead of her chat with host Jon Stewart.

Some more from David Davis, who was on the Today programme a little earlier.

He said: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime, history-changing event. For many people, it's the reason they got into politics. Not mine, but for some it is. 

"And yet the only people who will not have the freedom to vote and speak on it, according to this, are ministers in the government, which, of itself, is extraordinary.

"That will likely lead, I'm sorry to say, to some people resigning from the Government or being fired."

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Nadine Dorries, the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, has revealed she was sexually abused as a child.

Ms Dorries, who grew up in Liverpool, says she was abused for two years from age eight by her local vicar Reverend James Cameron, who died in 2011.

She said she had decided to reveal the truth after writing three novels that included stories of child sexual abuse.

The Church of England said a full investigation would be carried out and it would work with the authorities.

Read more here.

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The CBI has cut its UK growth forecasts and warned of further risks to the economy posed by a possible "messy" end to the Greek crisis and uncertainty over the EU referendum.

The business lobby group now expects 2.4% growth this year and 2.5% next year, down from February's forecast of 2.7% and 2.6% respectively.

It blamed weaker-than-expected growth in the first quarter for the downgrade.

The 0.3% expansion marked the UK's weakest growth since the end of 2012.

Read more here.

More from Teeside MP James Wharton - he said he was optimistic about Prime Minister David Cameron's renegotiation efforts, adding: "I think he can be successful."

Mr Wharton said that if that does happen, then "it's reasonable to expect that collective responsibility would apply".

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Thousands of migrants from Africa and the Middle East attempt to reach the shores of Europe each year, many making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean. More than 1,800 have died making the crossing so far in 2015 - a 20-fold increase on the same period last year.

The BBC has been talking to some of those who have decided to make the journey.

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James Wharton, minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government, was the backbencher who introduced an EU referendum bill. 

He said that "on big issues like this", that "if the government is taking a government position" of collective responsibility then "if you don't take that position, you have to leave". 

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In case you missed it yesterday, one of the key demands of a new group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs is "not achievable", Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told the Andrew Marr Show.

The 50-strong Conservatives for Britain group wants Westminster to be sovereign over European Union law. But Mr Hammond said a "unilateral red card veto" for the UK would "effectively be the end" of the EU.

Later, President Obama told David Cameron the US was "very much looking forward" to Britain staying in the EU.

PACopyright: PA

Former Europe minister David Davis says Mr Cameron's comments suggest a change of policy since the build-up to the election. He adds, on Today, that he thinks it a "rather unwise change".

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David Cameron has suggested he expects all members of the government to back him over any EU deal.

Speaking at the G7 summit in Germany, he said he was confident he could secure sufficient reforms but indicated that ministers who did not support him would have to resign.

The prime minister also said he was taking a "very open-minded view" on the timing of the in/out referendum. It comes after President Obama declared he wanted Britain to stay in the EU.

The prime minister said: "If you want to be part of the government you have to take the view that we are engaged in an exercise of renegotiation to have a referendum and that will lead to a successful outcome.

"Everyone in government has signed up to the programme set out in the Conservative manifesto."

Read more

Hello and welcome to our rolling coverage of political developments on what is a sunny Monday morning in Westminster. We'll start with a quick round-up of the main stories of the day - David Cameron on the EU referendum and the continuing G7 summit.