• Merkel and Hollande refuse to co-operate with the UK
  • Balance of competences study is looking at where the EU interferes
  • Cameron promised nothing was off the table in wide-ranging process

By Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor

PUBLISHED: 03:00 EST, 2 April 2013 | UPDATED: 09:10 EST, 2 April 2013


David Cameron was today challenged by more than 100 Tory MPs to end years of 'broken' promises on Europe and toughen his promise to hold an historic referendum on severing ties with Brussels.

The Prime Minister's much-heralded speech on relations with the EU was initially welcomed at home and abroad but support appears to be unravelling.

In a further blow, Mr Cameron's plan for a Europe-wide review of the powers wielded by Brussels has been snubbed by Germany and France.

David Cameron's landmark promise of a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU depends on the being able to claw back powers from Brussels

David Cameron's landmark promise of a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU depends on the being able to claw back powers from Brussels

Mr Cameron used his major speech in January to promise a landmark in-out referendum on Britain leaving the EU after negotiating a 'fresh settlement' including returning key powers to London.

But today a 'strongly worded' letter signed by more than 100 Tory MPs was delivered to Downing Street calling on the Prime Minister to pass a law before 2015 paving the way for the referendum.

Tory MP John Baron, who organised the letter, said: 'It is a strongly worded letter but it is congratulatory of the Prime Minister.

'The referendum promise had to be credible and believable - we got credible because the referendum has an 'out' option.

'That box has been ticked but we also need it to be believable... manifesto promises are not believable enough.'

The legislation would stand little chance of being passed, because both Labour and the Lib Dems oppose the idea of a referendum, but supporters say it would be a way of forcing MPs of all parties to publicly show whether or not they want to give the public a say.

In his speech Mr Cameron said he wanted to 'examine thoroughly what the EU as a whole should do and should stop doing'.

Britain launched a 'balance of competences review' which Mr Cameron said would 'give us an informed and objective analysis of where the EU helps and where it hampers'.

The Prime Minister added: 'Let us not be misled by the fallacy that a deep and workable single market requires everything to be harmonised, to hanker after some unattainable and infinitely level playing field.'

And he insisted: 'Nothing should be off the table.'

However France and Germany – the two leading powers in Europe - have both refused to take part.

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have rejected Mr Cameron's review of Brussels' powers as a British 'political exercise'

Most other EU member states have also snubbed the process, with only Sweden and Italy understood to have responded, The Guardian and Financial Times reported.

A French diplomat said: 'This is a British domestic political exercise. We have therefore decided we would not participate.'

In a co-ordinated snub of Mr Cameron's flagship Europe policy, Germany has aligned with France.

A UK government spokesman said: 'This is intended to be an open and transparent process so of course we have invited other EU countries to contribute, and indeed several have, along with a number of international organisations.

'But we recognise others consider this an essentially domestic review and have decided not to so far.'

The move is a major blow to Mr Cameron's hopes of building a pan-European consensus on the need to rein in the reach of Brussels into domestic affairs.

In the hours after Mr Cameron's long-awaited speech on Europe, he received the backing of key allies.

He said the Tories would offer an in-out vote by 2015 after renegotiating a new deal with Brussels.

Mrs Merkel gave the plan a cautious welcome, saying: 'Germany, and I personally, want Britain to be an important part and an active member of the European Union.'

However, in the months since Mr Cameron has struggled to win the support of other European countries.

While Sweden is seen as a key supporter, its Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has criticised Mr Cameron's 'unfortunate' attempts to limit benefits for new arrivals to Britain.

The comments below have not been moderated.

Farage would have us out of the EU mess straight away. Vote UKIP!

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Ukip reflects the thoughts of most of us, the UK is a small island and EU rules have made us uncompetitive due to the host of imposed uncompetitive rules. The 3 established parties only pay lip service to our wishes, Cameron will never re negotiate EU terms, its a ruse to get uo to vote Tory, Labour/ Libs do not want to leave the EU, look at the Kinnocks 300k a year and you have an idea why !

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It's all waffle until the election when he will back out of his promise yet again, his friends have too much invested in the EU in farming rights and shares in Europe to pull out and would probably lose millions and that is why he is waffling, hoping we will ignore UKIP and go along and vote for him in the election. No chance, once bit, twice shy. UKIP is the answer and will get us out.

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Its clear to me that Hollande and Merkel do not want us in Europe. Why else would they be so obnoxious and undemocratic. I can think of no better way to get UK citizens to harden their attitude to Europe and vote for "out" than European leaders consistently slapping Cameron's face when he tries to have a mature discussion in line with the will of the UK citizens. Cameron is doing his best to find a way to keep us in and Hollande and Merkel just keep sticking the boot in. Conclusion? They dont want us in! So lets get out asap.

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Out of the EU now please Mr Cameron, you were elected, sorry you were not elected, to do what the people want and we want an EU referendum before the next election

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he has no right to "negotiate" new EU terms on our behalf. We want a referendum NOW!

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100 Tory MPs is nothing to what eu Dave and all his libconlab mates and their eu bosses will face come the next election. I really think - and hope - that we are on the verge of a new post-libconlab / eu politics in this country. The country has had enough and national anger is fizzing with indignation below the surface.

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I want you to stay like you are, and the nation will stay like we are. Cameron your fixed opinion, will see you out of office, A couple of years will not be long then you will be out and soon forgotten just like Gordon Brown is.

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If these Tory MPs are genuine then there are more of them than needed to challenge Cameron for Leadership if he refuses to call a referendum before he and they become opposition if they are lucky in 2015.

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How can anybody be so stupid and ignorant to believe the ConLabLibdem utter tripe that the UK will not survive being outside the EU. Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that is complete garbage and should be completely ignored. Freedom from oppression and the Brussels dictators is what is needed and, hopefully, UKIP will provide the means to achieve this end.

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