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Significance

As intended, the changes will temporarily ease the Conservative Party's internal atmosphere, most importantly before the October annual party conference. However, they are unlikely to alter the fundamentals of the referendum or its outcome. The more significant internal party battle will be over the terms of Prime Minister David Cameron's EU membership renegotiation.

Impacts

The government could still face a September 7 House of Commons defeat over 'purdah', despite its reversal on the issue.

This would boost eurosceptic elements in the Labour Party before the September 12 leadership election result.

Cameron's wish to discourage migration from the Middle East could intensify his foreign policy focus on the region.

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