Isabel Hardman Isabel Hardman

Will Cameron talk to his MPs before his ‘game-changer’ immigration speech?

We still don’t know when David Cameron’s long-awaited ‘game-changer’ speech on immigration will be. Downing Street is only saying that it will be ‘before Christmas’, but it is still expected to be this week. Nick Clegg certainly thinks it is soon, as he’s been putting his own thoughts about today, saying he’ll support benefit curbs for migrants but not changes to freedom of movement. Some Tory MPs also think they should engage the Prime Minister in a spot of last minute lobbying, with varying levels of success. The Europhiles represented by European Mainstream have asked to meet David Cameron this week to put their views across but have been told that no-one is being allowed in to Downing Street from either side of the party. But when I asked a Number 10 source about this today, he said:

‘The Prime Minister and his team speak to MPs all the time.’

It may be that the meeting the europhiles wanted couldn’t take place simply because there isn’t space in the Prime Minister’s diary.

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