PM takes swipe at Boris over second poll call

The Prime Minister claimed the political pressures on other EU leaders removed any likelihood of a second renegotiation and argued it would be undemocratic to ignore a vote to leave.

Mr Cameron told MPs “we need to properly face up to the economic consequences of the choice to leave”.

The Prime Minister found himself supported in the Commons by former Labour leader Ed Miliband, the Doncaster North MP, and former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat MP for Sheffield Hallam.

But Shipley MP Philip Davies was among a series of Conservative members critical of the Prime Minister’s decision to recommend Britain stay in the European Union.

Mr Johnson had appeared to suggest that if Britain voted to leave the EU it might be a way of securing improved membership terms.

The Prime Minister said: “This is a straight democratic decision – staying in or leaving - and no government can ignore that.

“Having a second renegotiation followed by a second referendum is not on the ballot paper.

“And for a Prime Minister to ignore the express will of the British people to leave the EU would not just be wrong, it would be undemocratic.”

Mr Cameron said he was unaware of couples who have “begun divorce proceedings in order to renew their marriage vows”.

And in an apparent reference to suggestions Mr Johnson is backing ‘leave’ to further his Conservative Party leadership ambitions, the Prime Minister repeated his vow not to contest the 2020 General Election.

“I have no other agenda than what is best for our country,” he said.

Mr Clegg said the referendum is “about the future of our country, not the future of a divided Conservative Party” and would dictate “Britain’s place in the world”.

“The Indians, the Chinese, are mystified we are even risking exit from the European Union,” he said.

Mr Miliband said “on all the major issues” Britain enjoyed more influence inside the European Union.

But, questioning the Prime Minister’s insistence Britain is “safer” in the European Union, Mr Davies raised the issue of crimes committed by EU nationals since free movement of people across Europe was implemented.