Tory ministers will be allowed to campaign to leave the EU, David Cameron says

The decision will leave the Cabinet split down the middle

David Cameron (Getty)

Conservative government ministers will be allowed by David Cameron to campaign for Britain to leave the European Union.

BBC News reports that the Prime Minister will officially make the announcement later today.

It had previously not been clear whether MPs would have to leave the Cabinet in order to campaign for so-called ‘Brexit’ – because the Government’s official position is to remain in the EU.

As many as half of Cabinet ministers are thought to favour leaving the EU, according to recent reports.

The concession to Tory eurosceptics comes despite Mr Cameron’s favourable attitude towards membership of the bloc.

The move will see the Cabinet divided over the issue.

Labour’s shadow business secretary Angela Eagle described the decision by Mr Cameron as “weak weak weak”.

The Prime Minister had previously said he would renegotiate the UK’s terms of membership and then hold a referendum under the new terms.

Mr Cameron's renegotiations are now more limited in scope than some eurosceptics had demanded, however. The main measure Mr Cameron is asking for is a four-year ban on EU migrants claiming in-work benefits like tax credits.

The Conservative manifesto pledged to hold an in-out referendum on membership before the end of 2017.

Recent comments by Mr Cameron have been interpreted as suggesting the vote could be brought forward to as early as this year, however.

Polls regarding the referendum have shown a variety of results, with large numbers of people undecided.

The Prime Minister is set to appear in Parliament before MPs at 3.30pm in a statement regarding the European Union, where the announcement is expected to be made