The referendum question Pt. 2

Earlier this morning, Number 10 briefed that fiscal union in the eurozone would not trigger a referendum in this country because sovereignty will not be transfered from London to Brussels — a pre-requisite for any vote.

The problem for Cameron is that some of his backbenchers say there should be a referendum. Bernard Jenkin was on the Daily Politics earlier, insisting that fiscal integration marks a new era in the history of the Eurozone, which he dubbed ‘Maastricht Plus’.

On the other hand, some eurosceptic backbenchers caution that now is not the time to hold a referendum — stability in the eurozone is the order of the day. As I wrote yesterday, this cautious backbench dynamic suits the prime minister, whose present aim, a spokesman said this morning, is to support the Eurozone rather than repatriate competences from the EU.

However, Conor Burns, PPS to Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Patterson, appeared to challenge the government’s position during an interview with the World at One, saying