‘Cameron points to early vote on Europe’

Pressure from the Eurosceptic Ukip may push Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron to give British MPs a vote on an in-out referendum ahead of 2017, the year he has pledged to put the decision before the nation.

If MPs voted in favour of holding a referendum, this would commit the government to the controversial poll on the UK’s European Union membership. The PM hinted at the new plan as the country votes today in a series of county council elections.

“Mr Cameron has always held back from giving MPs a pre-election vote on his proposed referendum. It would split the coalition while enraging pro-European Tories. But his willingness to entertain the idea is an indication of the pressure from Nigel Farage’s Eurosceptic party and large numbers of his own MPs,” writes The Times.