UK's continued EU membership is 'a matter of pragmatism' - Cameron

British leader indicates that he values EU membership less than Scotland remaining in the UK

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has described the UK’s continued membership of the European Union as “a matter of important pragmatism”, rather than one of potential heartbreak, a phrase he used in the run-up to the Scottish independence referendum.

Speaking on BBC Radio, Cameron  said “I feel about 1,000 times more strongly about our United Kingdom than the European Union. I think the best answer for Britain is a reformed position in the EU because we’re a trading nation, we don’t just want access to those markets, we want a say over the rules. But let’s be frank, it’s not working properly for us at the moment. The single currency has driven process of change that has alienated people in Europe.”

Cameron has been under mounting pressure to toughen his stance on Europe following a string of defections from his party to the UK Independence Party (UKIP).

The British leader has avoided indicating whether he would argue for the UK to leave the EU if he cannot secure the reforms in Brussels ahead of the promised referendum before the end of 2017.

Expanding on the pragmatic value of membership, the UK leader told the BBC “If I thought that it wasn’t in Britain’s interests to be in the European Union I wouldn’t argue for us to be in it.”