Pro-Europe letter by Tory MPs who jumped the gun

A group of Tory Mps backing David Cameron’s Europe renegotiation were exposed last night for circulating a letter in support of the pM’s deal – before anything was agreed.

The letter was drawn up with help from Conservatives for reform in Europe, which is led by loyalist former Home office minister Nick Herbert.

CrE’s official position is it will support the pM on the condition his renegotiation is successful.

But the letter signed by 60 activists, a copy of which was published by the BBC yesterday, hailed the pM’s ‘deal’ as the ‘first time since 1975 a British prime Minister has returned from a summit with more powers than when they arrived’.

It says: ‘As Conservative activists... we fully support the deal the prime Minister has negotiated.’

It concedes that ‘there is clearly a need for further and continuing reform’ before adding: ‘However, no one knows what Brexit would look like and few would wish to risk our economic and national security without being certain of the alternative.’

The letter was distributed by CrE executive director Charlotte Vere who insisted it was the voice of grassroots activists and not ‘AstroTurf’.CrE was founded by 36 Mps including former cabinet minister Sir Eric pickles.

ukip leader Nigel Farage said: ‘These people are career crawlers. They would say anything to get promoted up the ministerial ladder. They like the Eu, they want to stay in the Eu, but what they really care about is their political careers.’

It follows the revelation on Thursday that a top Conservative party official was organising a supportive letter from big business.

Business leaders have been approached by the ‘in’ campaign to sign an open letter endorsing Mr