DAVID Cameron will make his long-awaited speech on Britain’s future relationship with Europe on Friday.

The prime minister is walking a tightrope on this issue.

On the one hand, he is attempting to appease the Euro-sceptics in his party.

They are angry that a promised referendum on the UK’s European Union membership has never happened and UKIP stands ready to welcome Tory rebels to its party if Mr Cameron does not deliver what they want.

On the other, he knows Britain must remain in the EU if it is to prosper economically.

Even the Americans are issuing veiled warnings about the dire consequences of Britain leaving the Union.

So what will Mr Cameron say on Friday in his much-delayed speech?

The likelihood is he will say he wants Britain to remain in the EU but on different terms. And it will be those terms that will be put to the electorate in a referendum.

Mr Cameron clearly wants Britain to have a different relationship with Europe.

That almost certainly means he wants to see Britain spending less on Europe and regaining more powers from Brussels.

Whether his speech will be enough for the anti-Europeans in his party or too much for his pro-Europe coalition partners remains to be seen. He is a man on a wire. Friday might go some way to decide whether he keeps his balance or not.