Despite the biggest-ever Tory rebellion on Europe, David Cameron faced down a courageous attempt by backbenchers to give voters their first say on Britain’s membership of the EU since 1975.
MPs voted overwhelmingly against the Commons motion calling for a national poll on whether to cut or renegotiate Britain’s ties to Brussels.
The result was a bloody nose for the Prime Minister and a stark demonstration of the growing support at Westminster for a referendum.
Campaigners accused the Tory, Lib Dem and Labour MPs who united to kill the Commons motion of wilfully ignoring a huge surge of public support for a plebiscite. And they vowed that there will be no let-up in the drive to give the British people a say on our links with the EU. » | Macer Hall and Martyn Brown | Tuesday, October 25, 2011
