Tory rebels tell Cameron not to spend party funds on referendum campaign

DAVID CAMERON is being urged by rebel MPs to ban the spending of Conservative Party money during the European Union referendum campaign in the wake of his recent Commons defeat.

The rebels also called on the Prime Minister to make it clear ministers will be allowed to campaign to leave the EU without having to resign their position. They want Mr Cameron to clarify his position at the party’s conference next month, which could be the last one before the referendum if it is held by September next year.

The demands came as the Government was still digesting Monday night’s shock defeat on Europe at the hands of its own MPs. Mr Cameron lost a vote on weakening Whitehall purdah rules ahead of the referendum by 312 to 285. In all, 35 Conservative MPs rebelled.

Their number included two of Mr Cameron’s former cabinet ministers – Owen Paterson and David Jones – as well as Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee of backbenchers.

Two of the Conservative rebels – Tom Pursglove and Craig Mackinlay – were only elected to the Commons in May. There were reports that they had been summoned to explain themselves to the deputy chief whip.

Steve Baker, the founder of the Conservatives for Britain group, told The

Telegraph he wanted to see “an indication of people’s freedom to campaign” both among ministers and party volunteers. “The sooner ministers know one way or the other whether they will be free to campaign without resigning after the deal has been announced the better,” he said.

Mr Baker added he did not want the Tory party’s database of supporters to be used to campaign to stay within the EU. He said: “I don’t think that the resources of the party should be forced into either side of the question because the party is certainly split and probably a majority are in favour of no – leaving.

“It would be better if we were told, without rancour, let’s go and campaign on the side of the question which we believe best meets our view of the circumstances and the best interests of the country.”

Mr Baker was supported by another rebel, Bernard Jenkin. He said: “In my view the Conservative Party is divided on the European question and therefore should be neutral and Conservative Party central office should not be used as a campaigning instrument in the referendum.

“I hazard a guess but most Conservative Party members will be voting to leave the EU in this referendum. I have little doubt about that.”

The defeat on Monday means that Mr Cameron now has to give at least four months’ notice before the beginning of the official 28 day referendum campaign. He will also have to submit in writing likely areas that ministers and officials may want to speak about publicly during the campaign.

Mr Baker said he would like to see that list of subject areas submitted to MPs on the cross party Public Administration Committee for vetting.