Five Cabinet ministers ready to rebel over EU deal

Jean-Claude Juncker blamed Tony Blair’s decision not to impose restrictions on Polish and Baltic state migrants in 2004
Jean-Claude Juncker blamed Tony Blair’s decision not to impose restrictions on Polish and Baltic state migrants in 2004
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As many as five cabinet ministers will fight for Britain to leave the European Union, a leading Conservative Eurosceptic said today, as David Cameron’s draft deal with Brussels came in for sustained criticism from his own party.

Liam Fox warned the prime minister that it would be “more difficult” in the coming years to heal Tory rifts over Europe if ministers are not allowed to speak out now.

The former defence secretary spoke after Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, suggested that Britain was only being offered an “emergency brake” mechanism on migrant benefits to “address the consequences” of Tony Blair’s decision not to impose restrictions on Polish and Baltic state migrants in 2004.

Mr Cameron hailed a draft agreement between UK and European officials