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This Library Note provides background reading in advance of the debate to be held on 31 January on the Prime Minister’s speech on Europe on 23 January. The Note provides a short history of Prime Ministerial speeches on Europe since 1970; outlines Government policy towards Europe since 2010; summarises David Cameron’s speech and selected reaction to it; and considers some aspects of the proposed renegotiation and referendum. It concludes with information about trends in public opinion towards Britain’s membership of the EU.

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