Tories To Defy Cameron's Euro Vote Whip

Some 70 conservative backbenchers are expected to defy David Cameron's strict instructions to vote against the holding of a referendum on Europe.

The Prime Minister has issued the strongest warning available to him, in the form of a three-line whip, for his party to vote against the motion that was introduced under a new scheme that allows the public to vote for motions to be discussed in Parliament.

All Conservative, Lib Dem and Labour MPs have been instructed to vote later against the motion calling for a public referendum on the UK's inclusion in the financially troubled EU.

Mr Cameron's opposition to a referendum has enraged the euro-sceptic quarters of the party, who have signed a petition by Tory MP David Nuttall, calling. for a referendum by May 2013.

The rebellion could prove disastrous for Mr Cameron. Even though the motion is unlikely to succeed under opposition from both the Lib-Dems and Labour Party, defiance of the three-line whip will greatly weaken Mr Cameron's authority over the party, as his most hefty sanction is rendered impotent.

Foreign Affairs Minister William Hague compared calls by Conservative MPs for a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union to "a piece of graffiti".

Speaking on Monday, Mr Hague said that an "in-out" referendum was not government policy and "the wrong question at the wrong time".

The division in the conservative party over its inclusion into Europe is a long and troubled one for the Conservatives.

The split was believed to be a major factor in the downfall of former PM John Major in the mid 1990s and also plagued the election campaign of William Hague and tenure of Ian Duncan Smith.

(DW/GK)