Tories at war over Europe (again) as Cameron snubs the sceptics

DAVID Cameron will never campaign for Britain to leave the EU in the planned referendum, it was claimed yesterday.

As rows over Europe overshadowed the opening of the Conservative Party conference, former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine said it was inconceivable that Mr Cameron would lead the ‘out’ campaign, even if he fails to win significant concessions from Brussels.

Mr Cameron yesterday gave out mixed messages on Europe, and risked angering Eurosceptics by referring to them contemptuously as ‘those people’.

Eurosceptic Cabinet minister Chris Grayling upped the ante, telling activists at the conference in Manchester that the renegotiation must result in Britain becoming a ‘sovereign nation’ again. He said: ‘At the end of this process we have to be a sovereign nation able to look after our national interests.’

The Prime Minister was also under mounting pressure last night to allow Tory ministers to campaign with their consciences during the referendum campaign. And he faced a further blow as it emerged the European Court of Justice is expected to rule against Britain’s blanket ban on prisoner voting tomorrow.

Mr Cameron yesterday tried to reassure critics on the Tory Right that he has an open mind on the referendum, confirming he will ‘rule nothing out’ if he fails to get a good deal.

But Lord Heseltine, who advises the PM on economic growth, torpedoed this strategy by saying Mr Cameron believed Britain should stay in the EU regardless. Asked if Mr Cameron might campaign to leave, Lord Heseltine told the BBC: No, I don’t see that he would. He has made his intentions pretty clear, he wants to secure arrangements he can recommend to the British people.

‘If you want Britain’s voice to be of historic significance you cannot contemplate the great powers gathering a few hundred miles east where we are not present. You simply cannot contemplate that – every prime minister I have ever known believes that.’

The Prime Minister yesterday said he understood the ‘frustration’ of pro-EU campaigners at his failure to speak out in favour of the benefits of EU membership. But he gave a strong hint that he would campaign to stay in once the negotiations with Brussels are completed.

‘I’m involved in a negotiation, I’m trying to get for Britain the things that we need. Obviously, once we have got them, then I will turn around and make the case for staying in a reformed Europe,’ he said. ‘ But right now I am fighting to get these things and I can’t guarantee I will get them.’

Mr Cameron admitted his demands would never satisfy Euro-

‘I’m fighting to get these things’

sceptics such as former environment secretary Owen Paterson.

‘There are some people who want to leave the EU and I suspect in Owen’s case have always wanted to leave the EU,’ he said.

‘There is nothing I am going to bring back that will satisfy those people.’

Graham Brady, chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, called for ministers to be given a free hand during the referendum campaign. He said allowing ministers a free vote was the best way of avoiding a Tory split on Europe.

‘Rancour and division’ could be avoided, but only if there was a ‘real effort to respect the honestly held views of others’, he said.

Mr Cameron has previously indicated ministers could be forced to resign if they want to campaign for Britain to leave the EU. Yesterday he ducked the issue, saying only that ministers would have to support him during the renegotiation period.

‘The time to make that decision is when I’ve completed the negotiation,’ he said.

‘If you’re a member of my government, then you have signed up to the process of renegotiation and referendum and you’ve signed up to the belief that we can achieve a successful renegotiation.’

Meanwhile, ministers are braced for a difficult day today when the European Court of Justice rules on Britain’s blanket ban on prisoner voting.

Reports yesterday suggested the court, which has the power to fine the UK, will rule the ban illegal, i ncreasing Tory concern about European encroachment. Tory MP Philip Hollobone said last night: ‘If EU judges force us to give prisoners the vote it will cause uproar.

‘This shows how much control the EU has over every area of our lives. We need to take back control and vote to get out of the EU.’

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