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Leave campaigners say climbdown makes mockery of Cameron's claim Turkey will not join EU until 'the year 3000'

During talks in Brussels, UK diplomats initially resisted new negotiations
Talks about Turkey satisfying financial and budgetary rules will go ahead
Government has been accused of ‘diplomatic acrobatics’ after U-turn

Earlier this week, leaked papers suggested that British diplomats have already secretly discussed granting visa-free travel to the UK for 1.5million Turks. Pictured: The European Commission building

Last month, Mr Cameron said ‘it would be decades, literally decades’ before Turkey joins the EU. But Vote Leave released a video of footage in which the he had spoken out in favour of Turkish membership.

In 2005, as leader of the Opposition, he complained that progress had been ‘desperately slow’. And, after becoming Prime Minister in 2010, he upped his backing for the Turks joining the EU significantly.

He said: ‘This is something I feel very strongly and very passionately about. Together I want us to pave the road from Ankara to Brussels.’

During a referendum debate last night, Boris Johnson said: ‘People feel they haven’t given democratic consent to what is happening [with immigration]. It is because we don’t have control.’

Before it can join the EU, Turkey must satisfy the EU it is making progress in 35 different areas, known as chapters. So far it has closed one of the chapters – science and research.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -3000.html

UK diplomats initially resisted allowing Turkey to open fresh talks on joining the bloc but backed down within hours

Leave campaigners have condemned David Cameron for previously claiming Turkey is not on course to join the union until "the year 3000".

UK diplomats allegedly backed down 'within hours' of halting the discussions

David Cameron said he wants to 'pave the road from Ankara' and the Brussels negotiations to make this happen are well under way

Matthew Elliott

Vote Leave chief executive Matthew Elliott said: "This is the second time this week that the Government's plans to accelerate visa-free travel and EU membership for Turkey have been revealed.

"David Cameron said he wants to 'pave the road from Ankara' and the Brussels negotiations to make this happen are well under way."

Talks between Ankara and the EU could now open again the day after the EU referendum.

One eurozone diplomat was reported calling Britain "scared of their own shadow", when it came to the discussions on Turkey.

Last month the Prime Minister said "it would be decades, literally decades" before Turkey joins the EU.

But anti-Brussels campaigners have pointed out the Tory leader has not changed the Government's official position which supports Turkey's EU membership bid.

An extra 100,000 Turkish people would come to Britain every year if the country joined the Brussels club, according to Migration Watch.

The report by the campaign group said under free-movement rules, the numbers coming to Britain would be "inevitable, substantial and sustained".

Vote Leave chief executive Matthew Elliott dismissed the Government's stance on Turkey

Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson said in a referendum debate last night that "people feel they haven't given democratic consent to what is happening with immigration. It is because we don't have control."

Before Turkey can join the EU is must show its making progress in 35 different areas known as chapters.

One chapter includes changing its anti-terrorism laws which bans dissent and has been used to curb press freedoms with the arrests of prominent journalists in recent months.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/679956 ... n-Union-EU