It is time for the British people to have their say. It is time for us to settle this question about Britain and Europe . . . When we have negotiated that new settlement, we will give the British people a referendum with a very simple in-or-out choice to stay in the European Union on these new terms; or come out altogether. – British prime minister David Cameron
Years and years of uncertainty because of a protracted, ill-defined renegotiation of our place in Europe is not in the national interest because it hits growth and jobs. – Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg
He is going to put Britain through years of uncertainty and take a huge gamble with our economy . . . He is running scared of Ukip. – Labour leader Ed Miliband
Germany wants the UK to remain an active and constructive part of the European Union . . . but cherry-picking is not an option. – German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle
The genie is out of the bottle . . . No longer can the case for British withdrawal be confined to the margins. – Ukip leader Nigel Farage
It reminds me of the Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles where the sheriff. . . holds a gun to his own head and says 'If you don't do what I want I'll blow my brains out'. You want to watch one of the 26 just say 'Well, okay, go ahead'." – Tony Blair