The nationwide vote over whether we stay in the EU could come as early as June, and Mr Cameron says his renegotiations over Britain’s membership have ensured we are better off staying in.

But another comment on the matter has sparked a row.

The Prime Minister said MPs should ignore the views of grassroots members – many of whom have traditionally been Eurosceptic – when they make their decision.

Speaking in the House of Commons, he told them: “Don’t take a view because of what your constituency association might say, or because you think it might be advantageous this way or that way.”

This apparent disregard for the party activists has angered some.

Robert Woollard, a founder of Grassroots Conservatives, described it as “contemptuous towards ordinary members” and added: “I think it is absolutely appalling.”

Will MPs feel free to vote as they see fit – or will they come under pressure to vote one way or the other?

Could the anti-EU activists in their local parties force them to vote to leave? Or could the leadership in Westminster pressurise them into voting to stay in?

The number of parliamentary constituencies is set to be reduced before the next election, so many of our current MPs, of all parties, will be left without a seat next time.

They may be reluctant to upset the party members for fear of being among those deselected.

Of course it’s not just up to MPs. Everyone will get a vote in the referendum. More than half of those questioned in our sister paper The Cumberland News ’ Our Cumbria survey plan to vote to stick with the EU.

The country as a whole is evenly split at the moment, according to the most recent nationwide opinion polls. An average of the YouGov polls show 51 per cent in favour of staying and 49 per cent for leaving – what’s being termed Brexit.


Gary Strong But among Tory voters there is a majority in favour of Brexit, as Gary Strong has noticed.

Mr Strong is deputy leader of the Conservatives on Cumbria County Council and councillor for Penrith Rural. He inclines slightly towards staying – and he accepts that puts him in the minority.

“At the moment I’m undecided,” he admits. “Every time I think I’ve decided, something else gets thrown into the pot that changes my perspective.

“But from a purely practical point of view I think we would be better off staying in Europe.”

But he adds: “Most people I speak to seem to be in favour of pulling out. There are more against Europe than for at the moment.”

And he disagrees with the Prime Minister’s plea to MPs to ignore the party members in making up their minds

“You’ve got to listen to your members,” he says.

“Whether you’re an MP or a councillor you have to take your constituents’ views on board, and get as much information as you can – and then you have got to make your own decision.”

But he doubts whether undue pressure will push them one way or the other.

“I think MPs are big enough and intelligent enough to make up their minds without being influenced by party whips or members.

“When you are in politics there have to be some principles, and I think MPs are principled enough to take the decision that they think is right.”


John Stevenson One of those who helped bring about the upcoming referendum is Carlisle MP John Stevenson,

In the last Parliament, he was part of a group of 81 MPs who called for a referendum – and though it didn’t happen then, it did persuade the Conservatives to include it in their election manifesto for this Parliament.

Britain has had a Europe referendum before. In 1975 the country voted to stay in what was then called the European Economic Community. But since then it has become a very different beast.

So Mr Stevenson says: “It’s about time the British people got to choose whether they want to be in the Europe we are in now, rather than the one we entered in the 1970s.”

He is waiting for the outcome of all Mr Cameron’s discussions with other member countries before deciding which way to vote.

And he sees both sides. “If we remain in the EU we can benefit from certain aspects. And if we vote to leave we will still be able to function as a country quite successfully.

“Within the Conservatives there are differing views. There are those who want to stay in, those who want us to come out and many who are the middle.”

And his decision will be his own. “As an MP it’s not for me to tell the membership what to do, and in return the membership are not there to tell me what to do.

“I accept there are different opinions.”


John Mallinson John Mallinson is leader of the Conservative group on Carlisle City Council, a county councillor and president of Carlisle Conservative Association.

He also reckons we can trust our MPs to make up their own minds without interference.

“MPs are representatives, they are not delegates,” he points out.

“They are allowed to think for themselves, and that’s what most of them do.

“The MPs I have experienced do listen to the views of local members – and you would expect them to take our views into account. But at the end of the day they do what they think is right.”

It would be hard for activists to pressure an MP collectively, he adds, as they don’t speak with on voice.

“Views are very mixed,” he says. “Some will consider their life to be fulfilled if we leave the EU, others would be equally despondent if we did. Some are in the middle.”

Personally he is undecided. “The main issues for me are sovereignty and our net payment to EU coffers, which in my view is excessive.

“The EU should be cutting its cloth in the same way the rest of us have had to.

“But I’m still hoping to vote in favour.”

Are these differences of opinion a threat to the party?

There are differing views on the EU in all parties, of course.

According to YouGov even some Ukip members plan to vote to stay.

But the differences are most pronounced among the Tories.

Yet they insist it won’t cause a serious split.

“I think the Conservative Party have conducted themselves very maturely,” says Mr Stevenson.

“We will accept the decision, just as we accepted Scotland’s decision when it voted to remain in the UK.”

Mr Mallinson adds: “I would like to see a totally open, honest debate, where the arguments are balanced.

“Everybody should be allowed to put their view without fear or favour, and everybody should listen to every rational argument and make a decision.”

As a minister, Penrith and The Border MP Rory Stewart is refusing to comment on the referendum.

But at least 70 Tory MPs – including some ministers – are expected to vote to leave the EU.

There are fears that if the number is as high as that then a split could come afterwards.

Mr Cameron has already pledged to step down before the next election.

If the referendum goes against Europe, he may choose then – which might even trigger an early general election.

The next election is not due to take place until 2020, but it can be held before that if two-thirds of MPs agree. However Mr Stevenson reckons. “I don’t think anybody has got an appetite for that.”

Mr Strong agrees. “I think that’s far-fetched,” he says. “This isn’t going to tear the party apart.”