Half of all Conservative backbenchers demand EU referendum law
Half of all Conservative backbenchers have voted to criticise David Cameron’s Queen’s Speech for failing to propose a law on a European Union referendum.
In a symbolic expression of deep unease with the Coalition’s European policy, around 114 Conservative MPs, including ministerial aides, backed an amendment regretting the omission of a referendum law.
Conservative support for the motion was bigger than expected and equal to more than a third of all the party’s MPs.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats opposed the referendum call, and the amendment was defeated by 272 votes to 130.
The vote is believed to be the first time since 1946 that members of a governing party have voted against a Queen’s Speech, and reflects deep Conservative unhappiness over Mr Cameron’s Coalition deal with the Liberal Democrats.
The embarrassing show of Tory defiance came despite Mr Cameron’s last-minute attempts to placate his party over Europe. Earlier this week he rushed the publication of a draft referendum bill and encouraged backbenchers to introduce it to Parliament.
Hours before the vote, William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, promised Conservative MPs that ministers will give full support to any Tory introducing a private bill for a referendum.
A ballot for parliamentary slots for private bills will be held on Thursday.
Mr Cameron had ordered his ministers to abstain on the vote, but in a face-saving move to allow Mr Cameron to argue the vote was not a rebellion, backbenchers were told they were free to back the amendment.
David Cameron takes his seat during a meeting with General Ban Ki-moon (EPA)
Speaking in New York, Mr Cameron insisted he was “relaxed” about his MPs’ criticism of his programme.
“It’s a free vote and as I’ve said I’m very relaxed about it. So I don’t think people can read in anything really to the scale of that free vote,” he said.
“What the votes show very clearly is the strong support there is for a really excellent Queen’s Speech and governmental programme."
Mr Cameron has promised to hold a referendum by 2017 but many of his MPs say his promise is not enough and only a law will persuade voters that the referendum will happen.
John Baron, the MP who proposed the amendment said Mr Cameron must do more to deliver that law.
"The political establishment has essentially closed ranks over the last 30 years and denied the electorate a choice," he said.
"We now have a golden opportunity to right this wrong. We should be bold of heart, seize the moment and do what is right by the electorate and by the country."
Conservative criticism of the EU is rising following the advance of the UK Independence Party at the recent local elections. Tories including ministers have said they would now vote to leave the union.
Among the MPs who backed the amendment was Richard Drax, who told the Commons that Britain should accept that the EU is “dead” and could even cause civil war.
He said: “It's finished. Look around. Wake up. Greece is a disaster. Spain is on the brink of - what? Potentially civil war. 53 per cent of youth are unemployed there. Around on the streets the police are bashing their own youngsters over the head. This is the Europe that we are now facing.”
The Commons vote was the biggest show of Conservative unease over Europe since 2011, when 81 Tories defied Mr Cameron's orders to demand a referendum.
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