Conservative Mayor of London Boris Johnson is to campaign for Britain to leave the EU, the BBC understands.
The MP’s decision comes as ministers began campaigning over the UK’s EU membership, after PM David Cameron called a referendum for 23 June.
He is expected to confirm his decision on Sunday evening and give his reasons for it in his column for the Telegraph newspaper.
Mr Cameron told the BBC leaving the EU would be “a leap in the dark”
BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Johnson’s decision will be seen as a huge boost to the Out campaign and a major blow to the prime minister who had hoped to persuade friends and rivals to back the campaign to remain.
Mr Johnson, who was elected to Parliament in May 2015 as the MP for Uxbridge and Ruislip South, joins six other ministers who attend cabinet in backing the campaign to leave.
Zac Goldsmith, who is hoping to become Mr Johnson’s successor as London mayor in May, has also said he will vote to leave.
BBC
