Cameron Attacks His Own Government Minister Over Turkey Veto Claim

A Tory-on-Tory row has broken out after armed forces minister Penny Mordaunt claimed the UK can’t stop Turkey joining the EU.

ITV

David Cameron has attacked one of his own government ministers as being "absolutely wrong" after she claimed the UK can't stop Turkey from joining the European Union.

Ahead of next month's referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, the Leave side has raised the prospect of Turkey becoming an EU member in the near future and claimed high levels of criminality among the Turkish population would risk national security.

On Sunday morning, armed forces minister Penny Mordaunt insisted the UK has no veto over whether or not Turkey can join the EU, but the prime minister immediately hit back saying his minister was "misleading" the public and that Turkey becoming an EU member is "not remotely on the cards".

The row is the latest in a string of heated arguments between the Leave and Remain sides of the Conservative party ahead of the 23 June referendum.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mordaunt said: "This referendum is going to be our last chance to have a say on [Turkey's EU membership]. We're not going to be consulted or asked to vote on whether we think those countries or others should join, they are going to join."

Asked if she thought the UK has a veto on the issue, she replied: "No, it doesn't, we are not going to be able to have a say. No, I do not think that the EU is going to keep Turkey out, I think it is going to join, I think the migrant crisis is pushing it more that way."

View Entire List ›