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EU referendum: Tory MPs set to rebel against government EU referendum: Hague likens call to 'piece of graffiti'
(about 1 hour later)
The government is facing the prospect of a rebellion by Conservative MPs when Parliament votes on proposals for a referendum on Europe.  
All Conservative, Lib Dem and Labour MPs have been instructed to vote against the motion calling for a public vote on the UK's place in the EU. William Hague has compared calls by Conservative MPs for a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union to "a piece of graffiti".
However, nearly 70 Tory MPs are likely to defy the party whip on the issue. An in-out referendum was not government policy, the foreign secretary said, and "the wrong question at the wrong time".
Although that will not change the result, their action is being seen as a test of David Cameron's leadership. All Conservative, Lib Dem and Labour MPs have been instructed to vote later against a motion calling for a public vote on the UK's place in the EU.
However, nearly 70 Tory MPs are likely to defy the party whip on the issue.
Although that will not change the result of the vote at 2200 BST, the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said their action was being seen as a challenge to David Cameron's authority.
The prime minister opposes a public vote on Britain's EU membership and has sought to shift attention onto helping to solve the eurozone crisis.The prime minister opposes a public vote on Britain's EU membership and has sought to shift attention onto helping to solve the eurozone crisis.
'Economic uncertainty'
He has imposed a three-line whip - the strongest order a party can give - on Conservative MPs, meaning that any who vote against the government will be expected to resign from government jobs.He has imposed a three-line whip - the strongest order a party can give - on Conservative MPs, meaning that any who vote against the government will be expected to resign from government jobs.
Speaking at his press conference in Brussels where he is meeting EU leaders to discuss the eurozone crisis, Mr Cameron said: "I don't think this is the right time to legislate for an in-out referendum. Mr Hague defended ministers' handling of the vote, saying it was "not unusual" for a government to ask its MPs to oppose something that was "completely against" their policy.
"I think this is the right time to sort out Europe's problems, sort out the eurozone problem, defend your national interest and look to the opportunities in the future to repatriate powers back to Britain." "Clearly our whole relationship with the European Union is a matter that concerns the government as a whole and not just something for the House of Commons to put up some graffiti about," he told Radio 4's Today.
He said the possibility of changes to the European Union's treaty had been discussed at the summit - and that could provide an opportunity for Britain to reclaim powers from Brussels. Mr Hague said he had argued for referendums to be used more frequently on other issues but he believed "this proposition is the wrong question at the wrong time".
Asked whether raising the possibility of repatriating some of Britain's powers was an olive branch to Tory rebels, Mr Cameron said: "You can interpret it how you want to." "It was not in the manifestos of either of the governing parties, it cuts right across the rules for holding referendums, it will create additional economic uncertainty in this country at a difficult economic time."
'Downgrade orders' Mr Hague said the UK's priority should be on "protecting the British national interest" during talks to resolve the eurozone crisis and to ensure the UK had a strong voice in future discussions over changes to the EU.
On Saturday, Foreign Secretary William Hague, widely seen as a eurosceptic, urged Tory MPs not to vote for the motion. href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/8841364/William-Hague-on-the-EU-membership-vote-We-wont-leave-Europe-but-it-wont-rule-us.html" title="William Hague writing in the Telegraph about the EU referendum vote" >Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said solving the eurozone finance crisis should be the priority. "The right referendum is when any government suggests handing more power from Britain to the EU that the British people are consulted in a referendum."
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that despite unhappiness amongst some Tory backbenchers and the threat of some frontbench resignations, "the three-line whip remains because the motion is contrary to government policy". Prime Minister David Cameron, who will update MPs on the summit href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15425139" >after his row with Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday, has said the focus should be on sorting out Europe's economic problems while looking to repatriate powers back to Britain when the time is right in future.
Prominent Conservative backbencher John Redwood said there was no need for a three-line whip because Labour and Lib Dem MPs were going to vote against the motion. Speaking at Sunday's EU summit, Mr Cameron said the possibility of changes to the European Union's treaty had been discussed and that could provide an opportunity for Britain to reclaim powers from Brussels.
He urged the government to downgrade the orders to a one-line whip, which is when the government issues a guide on how it would like its MPs to vote. Public opinion
Labour leader Ed Miliband told the BBC's Politics Show that David Cameron had brought the problems on himself by "appeasing eurosceptics". Conservative backbencher Bernard Jenkin said the public had not be consulted on the issue of Europe for more than 35 years and public opinion was on the side of those seeking a referendum.
"It's no wonder that his backbenchers are disappointed, because he has been pretending for a long time that he is one of them," he said. "David Cameron is not just taking on the Conservative Party," he said. "He is taking on the whole of public opinion."
The Commons debate on the issue was prompted after a petition was signed by more than 100,000 people. Mr Jenkin said the referendum was not a "panic exercise" but a response to what was going on in the eurozone and the "fundamental change in the nature of our relationship with the EU" being proposed.
The motion - which carries no legal weight - calls for a referendum on whether the UK should remain in the EU, leave or renegotiate its membership. Prominent rebels say there is no need for a three-line whip because Labour and Lib Dem MPs are going to vote against the motion.
Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has said it is the worst time for a debate about Britain leaving the EU as a "firestorm" engulfs the eurozone while Labour leader Ed Miliband has said Mr Cameron had brought the problems on himself by "appeasing eurosceptics".
Monday's motion - which carries no legal weight - calls for a referendum on whether the UK should remain in the EU, leave or renegotiate its membership.
In the coalition agreement, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems, a traditionally pro-European party, agreed to "ensure that the British government is a positive participant in the European Union, playing a strong and positive role with our partners".In the coalition agreement, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems, a traditionally pro-European party, agreed to "ensure that the British government is a positive participant in the European Union, playing a strong and positive role with our partners".
On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it was the worst time for a debate about Britain leaving the EU as a "firestorm" engulfs the eurozone. The Commons debate on the issue was prompted after a petition was signed by more than 100,000 people.