EU referendum will be on June 23

The EU referendum will be held on the 23rd June, David Cameron has announced.

The confirmation means that the nation will go to the polls in just 124 days.

The Prime Minister said that leaving the EU would threaten Britain’s economic and national security.

Six cabinet ministers, including Michael Gove, the Justice Secretary, and Ian Duncan Smith, the Pensions secretary, will campaign against the Prime Minister to leave the EU.

David Cameron, who will lead the campaign to stay, warned leaving the European Union would be a “leap in the dark” as he urged voters to back his reform deal.

Speaking in Downing Street after briefing the Cabinet, the Prime Minister said that the promised in/out referendum would take place on June 23.

He confirmed that the Cabinet had backed his plan but that individual ministers would be free to campaign on either side.

Last night Mr Cameron finally announced that he had made his long-awaited deal with Brussels over Britain’s role within the EU.

The Prime Minister was forced to give ground on payment of child benefits payments to EU migrants who’s children do not live in Britain.

However he won backing for a seven-year “brake” restricting in-work benefits for migrants coming to Britain from EU countries. He says this will reduce the pull factors for those considering coming to live in the UK.

Mr Cameron said that the referendum represented “one of the biggest decisions this country will face in our lifetimes”.

“The choice is in your hands,” he said in a direct appeal to voters. “But my recommendation is clear.

“I believe that Britain will be safer, stronger and better off by remaining in a reformed European Union.”