William Hague, has told backbench Eurosceptics that Monday's Commons vote on pulling out of Europe "is the wrong question at the wrong time".
The foreign secretary spoke out as David Cameron faced the most serious challenge to his authority since taking office. A large number of Conservative MPs are reportedly planning to rebel on the Commons motion, which calls for a referendum on the UK's relationship with the EU.
Cameron will meet parliamentary aides in Downing Street before the vote in an attempt to dissuade as many as 10 members of the government who are minded to rebel against the prime minister, requiring them to resign their posts.
The coalition is sticking to its decision to impose a three-line whip on MPs to vote against the motion, despite criticism that it has been too heavy-handed.
The motion calls for a nationwide referendum on whether Britain should leave the EU, renegotiate its treaty with Brussels, or remain a member on the current terms.
The government will not suffer a defeat because Labour and the Lib Dems will vote down the motion, but a sizeable group of Conservative believes Cameron should honour pledges once made to allow a national vote on Britain's relationship with Europe. They are calling for the repatriation of social and employment rights.
Hague – formerly one of the Tory party's most high-profile Eurosceptics – defended the leadership's decision to impose a three-line whip on the grounds that the motion being debated was "completely against the policy of the government".
"This proposition is the wrong question at the wrong time. It was not in the manifesto of either of the governing parties," he said. » | Hélène Mulholland | Monday, October 24, 2011
