A third of Tory backbenchers have now signed the EU referendum motion. Worryingly for
the whips, this isn’t the limit to this motion’s appeal. There are several Tories who plan to come out for it on Monday and one PPS, Stewart Jackson, has already made clear that
he’s prepared to resign over the matter if necessary.
Last night, Number 10 sources told me that they would be interested in a compromise amendment. But I think the Cameron operation will have to offer more than they were planning to.
What’s needed to head off this rebellion is a commitment to renegotiation at the first available opportunity followed by a referendum on the results of that. This is something that Cameron and Hague should be prepared to offer given what they have said recently about how they would like to repatriate powers if possible.
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