Two top Jewish figures in key roles in lead up to EU referendum

Two Jewish figures – one in London and the other in Brussels – have taken on key roles in the lead-up to this summer’s referendum on EU membership.

Former British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould has been charged by David Cameron with responsibility for a team which will produce dossiers to counter calls for Brexit.

British-born Jonathan Faull, meanwhile, led the negotiations for the European Commission which culminated in the deal reached by European leaders two weeks ago – which the prime minister claimed gave the UK “special status” in the EU.

Faull, the most senior British EU civil servant who headed a taskforce on the referendum since last September and was among those working round the clock to reach a deal in Brussels, told the Jewish News: “Now it’s up to the British people to decide.”

He said In January: “The commission’s position is a very simple one: We want to be helpful. We are playing a role of course in the crafting of solutions to the problems that have been raised, and liaising with the other 27 member-states to make sure their interests are properly reflected in whatever emerges from the European Council which of course will act in this area by consensus.”

Having moved to Brussels in 1978, he has served as chief press spokesman as well as director general in charge successively of communication, justice and home affairs, internal market and financial services.

The agreement enables the government to limit some migrants’ benefits and exempts the country from being tied to any further integration in the future. But those calling for a vote to leave the EU claim the changes are limited and say Britain would do better alone, free from the limitations imposed by Brussels.