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MPs vote against EU referendum

EU motion is defeated but 111 MPs, including 79 Tories, join the rebellion.

By George Eaton Published 24 October 2011 23:19

MPs have just voted against the EU referendum motion by 483 to 111 - a majority of 372.

79 Tory MPs (not including the two tellers) defied a three-line whip and voted in favour of the motion, while two abstained, making this the largest ever Conservative rebellion on Europe (the previous record was 41) and the largest Tory rebellion so far this parliament (the previous record was also 41). Indeed, this nearly the largest ever rebellion by any political party on Europe. The previous record, as Philip Cowley and Mark Stuart of Revolts note, is held by Labour, 80 of whose MPs voted against a programme motion for the European Assembly Elections Bill in January 1978.

Tomorrow's headlines will be dreadful for David Cameron but, in my view, he was right to whip MPs against the motion. Britain might be the most eurosceptic country in the EU but the public care less about the subject than some imagine. Polling by Ipsos-MORI shows that just 3 per cent of voters regard Europe as one of the most "important issues" facing the UK. As the economy continues to struggle, Tory MPs obsessed with Europe risk appearing eccentric to the electorate.

I'll post a full list of the rebel MPs as soon as one is available.

12am Update: Unusually, the list still hasn't appeared. We'll post it on The Staggers tomorrow morning.

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Tags: Europe

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8 comments

Tue, 2011-10-25 07:28 — Luddite (not verified)

So Ed Milliband sides with a French president against the best interests of his own people? Some may say 'what do you expect from a Eastern European Marxist' Let's also not forget, many inside the Labour party are angry about broken promises!!

Tue, 2011-10-25 08:37 — James Holland (not verified)

That all three leaders proposed a referendum at the last election shows the public must have cared about it. This makes it all the more disgraceful that they then whip their parties to vote against it now. Europe is an issue that effects many aspects of British governance, including defense, social and economic policy. People surely do care about this, no? But why let cold hard facts get in the way of the party pantomime that our democracy has become.

Mon, 2011-10-24 23:24 — Arturo Bandini (not verified)

Screw the rebel MPs, George - what about the Rebel MC? he's here, and he's street tuff!

Mon, 2011-10-24 23:30 — Abie Vee (not verified)

Same old Tories, self-destructing over Europe as usual. Its the fault-line that runs through everything they do, having finished the careers of their last three prime ministers and kept their party out of power for a generation. Long may it continue.

Mon, 2011-10-24 23:38 — Dickie1

The really interesting thing will be to see how the Tories blame this on the last Gov.

Mon, 2011-10-24 23:54 — Des Demona (not verified)

Is my mind playing tricks on me or is it really the case that at least two parties were promising a referendum on this issue in their last manifesto?
Ahhh George Orwell, I miss you. We don't have the Ministry of Truth, but it is a pretty close approximation.

Tue, 2011-10-25 01:31 — John Bracewell (not verified)

Easy, Whatever. There would have been no need for this motion or vote if the Labour government had honoured their promise of a Referendum on the Constitution/Lisbon Treaty as they should have done.