Cameron faces rebellion in ranks over referendum on staying in EU

TORY MPs are preparing to defy Prime Minister David Cameron and push for a referendum on Britain’s continued membership of the European Union, in a debate in the Commons next week.

The Commons back-bench business committee has ordered a debate on the issue for 27 October, after more than 100,000 people signed a petition demanding a choice.

It could potentially put pressure on the government at a time when Mr Cameron is defending continued membership of the EU as problems within the eurozone deepen.

The vote will also place the Liberal Democrats in an awkward position, after their pledge in the election to hold such a referendum.

Although approval of the motion would not be binding, it would put intense pressure on Mr Cameron to respect the will of the Commons and seek the public’s verdict. The Prime Minister, who has expressed his desire to take back some powers from Brussels, is publicly opposed to such a referendum.

Pulling out was “the wrong answer for Britain” he told increasingly vocal eurosceptic Tories at the party’s autumn conference in Manchester this month.

“What most people want in this country is not actually to leave the EU, but to reform the EU and make sure that the balance of powers between a country like Britain and Europe is better,” Mr Cameron said.

He insisted that the priority was dealing with the eurozone crisis.