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Cameron facing mutiny from his own MPs for saying he could block referendum on Europe

By JASON GROVES

Last updated at 10:18 AM on 19th October 2011

Mutiny: David Cameron is facing a revolt among his MPs after indicating that he could order them to block a referendum on Britain's relationship with Europe

David Cameron is facing mutiny among his MPs after indicating that he could order them to block a referendum on Britain's relationship with Europe.

A cross-party coalition celebrated briefly yesterday after securing a landmark debate and vote next week on staging a referendum on whether Britain should leave the EU.

But, to the fury of many Tory MPs, Government sources last night indicated that Mr Cameron may order his troops to vote against the proposal, virtually guaranteeing its defeat.

Eurosceptic Tory MP Bill Cash described the prospect of an intervention by No 10 as ‘beyond belief’.

He said: ‘It would be quite extraordinary for the Prime Minister to prevent the British people from having their say on a European project that is quite clearly failing.

'We have protests and riots all over Europe, we have billions of pounds being poured into bailouts and we have a trade balance with the EU which has deteriorated by £40billion.

‘For the Prime Minister to ask the Conservative Party to vote against asking people their views would be beyond belief.

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'It would cause huge anger and resentment on the back benches and, more importantly, in the country at large – it is defying political gravity.’

Fellow Tory Peter Bone pointed out that the option of renegotiating Britain’s relationship with Brussels was Tory policy at the last election, and he blamed the Liberal Democrats for tempering Tory instincts on Europe.

Mr Bone said: ‘This may be the point where the Conservative back benches say enough is enough with the Liberals driving Government policy.’

Celebration: A cross-party coalition rejoiced after securing a landmark debate and vote next week on staging a referendum on whether Britain should leave the EU

The Commons Backbench Business Committee ordered the debate, to be held on October 27, after more than 100,000 people signed a petition demanding a choice. It could result in the first referendum on Britain’s relationship with Brussels since 1975.

MPs will vote on whether to hold a referendum with three options: staying in the EU, renegotiating Britain’s membership to ‘create a new relationship based on trade and co-operation’ or quitting Brussels altogether.

‘It is about time this debate was settled once and for all. No one under the age of 54 has ever had a say on Britain’s relationship with the EU, and they deserve their say now.’

- Nikki Sinclaire

Although approval of the motion would not be binding, it would place enormous pressure on Mr Cameron to respect the will of the Commons and seek the public’s verdict.

The Prime Minister is desperate to avoid a major row on Europe. The Eurosceptic wing of the Tory party has never forgiven him for reneging on a pledge to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty despite making a pledge to do so while in Opposition.

The Tory leader said he ‘would not let matters rest’ if the treaty came into force but later argued that it would be legally impossible to reopen it.

His discomfort on the issue was intensified yesterday when London Mayor Boris Johnson said it was ‘crazy’ to back greater integration among eurozone countries – a policy suggested by both Mr Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne.

David Nuttall, the Tory MP who called the debate, described the possibility of the Government’s move as ‘very disappointing’.

Mr Nuttall said: ‘It is a matter of trust. I want to rebuild trust in politicians and I think giving people a say on major issues like this is one way of doing that.’

Independent MEP Nikki Sinclaire, who presented the petition to Downing Street, said: ‘It is about time this debate was settled once and for all. No one under the age of 54 has ever had a say on Britain’s relationship with the EU, and they deserve their say now.’

But Government sources said Coalition policy was to remain in the EU. A senior source said: ‘It is not our policy to have an in/out referendum on the EU. We want to help backbenchers, who might feel under pressure from other colleagues, to vote in support of the Government’s position.

‘It would be pretty weak for the Government to take a position and fail to defend it.’ Labour also indicated it would not support the referendum call.