UK Should Leave EU Unless Cameron Ensures Bloc's Reform – London Mayor

The United Kingdom should not hesitate to exit the European Union if Prime Minister David Cameron fails to secure the reforms to the bloc he is seeking to achieve, London Mayor Boris Johnson said Tuesday.

LONDON (Sputnik) — Cameron, whose Conservative Party won the May 7 UK general election, has pledged to revise Britain's relations with the European Union and hold a referendum on the country's membership of the bloc by 2017.

Cameron's proposals to the European Union include reforming the system of contributions to the bloc's budget, giving national governments more opportunities to block unpopular decisions by Brussels, and providing member states with more powers to control the influx of migrants and distribute social benefits.

"In an EU referendum I would vote to stay in if and only if we get the reforms we need. If you do not have that willingness to walk away you cannot hope to have success in the negotiation," Johnson said, as quoted by the Telegraph.

The London mayor added that he believes that even outside the European Union, the United Kingdom could quickly establish good trading relations on both a European and global level.

In March, Cameron said he would only serve two terms as prime minister of the United Kingdom, and named the London mayor among his potential successors. Johnson said it would be an "honor" for him to be considered for the position.