‘I was misinterpreted and the Tories are completely united’: David Cameron digs himself a hole after threat to sack pro-Brexit ministers

H/t reader squodgy:

“This lying bastard is really showing his colours now.

He never had any intention of giving populace a really binding vote to get out of the EU Gravy Train….ever.”

An angry David Cameron has claimed he was “misinterpreted” over his threat to sack ministers if they campaign for Britain to leave the European Union as he sought to regain the initiative over his bid to renegotiate Britain’s membership of the 28-state bloc.

The Prime Minister appeared to make a U-turn after facing a backlash from his own party for comments he made yesterday, when he said everyone in his government would have to back his strategy to “renegotiate, get a deal that’s in Britain’s interest and then recommend Britain stays in” the EU.

Speaking at a press conference at the G7 summit in Germany after a day of confusing messages from the government, he said he had been referring only to the renegotiation phase, describing speculation over whether he would impose collective responsibility on the referendum campaign itself as “hypothetical”.

There was “complete unity” in the Conservative party, Mr Cameron added, despite a host of prominent MPs reacting angrily to suggestions he would not grant his ministers the freedom to follow their conscience over the referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU.

Mr Cameron said no decision had been made on whether the principle of collective government responsibility would apply to the referendum campaign itself.

“It is clear to me that what I said yesterday was misinterpreted,” he said at a press conference at the G7 summit in Germany this afternoon. “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.

“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.”