Britain seeks reform ally before EU poll

Britain will try and build an alliance of like-minded countries in an attempt to secure a series of reforms prior to its EU referendum, provisionally scheduled for 2017, said British ambassador to Ireland Dominick Chilcott.

“If the UK sets about seeking reforms on a unilateral basis in an ‘a la carte’ manner, it will be heroically difficult to pursue,” said Mr Chilcott. “The UK hopes to tap into a groundswell of support across the region where there is an appetite for reform. We have to find a way of socialising ideas.”

Mr Chilcott was speaking at an event organised by the employers’ group Ibec on the implications for Ireland arising from the UK’s EU referendum.