We can’t accept status quo on Europe says PM

The Prime Minister risked the wrath of his eurosceptic Conservative backbenchers by refusing to call for an immediate in/out poll in his statement to the House of Commons.

He told MPs the status quo in Europe was “unacceptable”, although leaving altogether would not be best for Britain. “I do support our membership, I do think the single market is vital for us, and determining the rules of that market matter for us,” he said.

But he refused to rule out leaving altogether. When Tory MP Julian Lewis asked him “Is it your position that on any referendum on Europe, while you are PM, the option of voting to leave the EU will not appear on the ballot paper?”, Mr Cameron replied: “That is not what I’ve said.”

He added: “What I’ve said is I don’t support an immediate in/out referendum.

“I believe we should show strategic and tactical patience in this and then what I want to see is a fresh settlement that we seek fresh consent for. The right time to determine questions about referendums and the rest of it is after we have that fresh settlement. That is what we should do.”

Deriding the PM’s position, Labour leader Ed Miliband said: “It’s nothing to do with the national interest. It’s all about managing developments in his own party. A nudge-nudge, wink-wink European policy is neither good for the country nor will it keep his party quiet.”

He said Mr Cameron’s position on Europe was driven by the desire to appease backbenchers after former Defence Secretary Liam Fox became the most senior Tory to call for an immediate renegotiation of Britain’s terms of membership followed by a referendum.