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Leading article

Cameron’s EU referendum tactics make Harold Wilson look clever

He has two jobs: to keep his party together, and to get the best possible deal. He just stumbled on both

13 June 2015

9:00 AM

13 June 2015

9:00 AM

David Cameron is now facing the biggest challenge of his leadership: how to renegotiate Britain’s membership of the EU without destroying his party. His dilemma mirrors the situation of Harold Wilson 40 years ago this month. So far, the old Labour man looks the better strategist.

Wilson, who had a majority of three, avoided mass resignations from his cabinet by suspending the convention that members of the government must back its entire programme in public.

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