Shropshire and Mid Wales Tories at odds over free vote on Europe

The issue is set to dominate British politics in 2016 and expose divisions within the Conservative Party.

And in our region, MPs today spoke of their differences as the promised referendum on EU membership approaches.

Senior Tories including grandee Lord Howard have called for the cabinet to have a free vote in the EU referendum. The move would allow senior members of the Government to campaign for Britain to leave the EU without first having to resign from the cabinet.

North Shropshire MP and former minister Owen Paterson today said he agrees with the stance of Lord Howard, saying cabinet ministers should be able to make a decision and campaign for "whichever side they want".

But he faces opposition from some colleagues in Shropshire, who today said they wanted the party to remain united despite differences of opinion on Europe.

Eurosceptic Mr Paterson joined Lord Howard and fellow ex-cabinet minister Liam Fox in warning that giving ministers a free vote was the only way to keep the Conservative Party together.

He said it would lack credibility to expect long-standing Eurosceptics in the government to campaign for Britain to remain in the EU, despite the efforts of Mr Cameron to win concessions on issues like freedom of movement and benefit payments.

"Considering how incredibly thin the Prime Minister's demands are and what he is likely to be granted by the other 27 member states, it will be wholly incredible for some figures in the cabinet to campaign for that," Mr Paterson said.

"We have a real responsibility to the British nation to come together again after the referendum to carry on governing properly.

"I think the way to do that is to let cabinet ministers – once the settlement is seen to be what it is – to make a decision and to campaign for whichever side they want in the referendum."

Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski said he backed Mr Paterson, saying it is imperative that cabinet members are given the freedom to vote and campaign as they wish over the issue.

He said: "They should definitely be given a free vote, it would be highly wrong for them not to be given a free vote. This is a monumental decision which will affect the destiny of the country.

"This is a highly polarising issue, polarising for the party and the country. It is a decision that once we have taken there is no going back. I think for a decision of that magnitude people need to be able to speak out and campaign as they see most suitable for their country."

Mr Kawcyzynski said he had not yet made his decision on which way he will vote, and said he would be sitting down with his constituency party to discuss the matter in coming weeks.

But Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies, whose constituency borders that of Mr Paterson, said he believes any Government cabinet member wishing to campaign against the Prime Minister's position on continued membership of the EU should resign.

Mr Davies said: "Any cabinet member who seeks to campaign in opposition to the Prime Minister's position on continued membership of the EU should resign from the cabinet when the formal campaign begins.

"The in/out referendum will be much the biggest issue of the current Parliament and is such a fundamental issue the cabinet will not be able to function at all unless it is united on the biggest issue of all.

"I would hope that anyone resigning would be open to promotion back into the cabinet when the referendum is over.

"Personally, I have not yet decided how I am going to vote. I have always been an 'outer', but it's such a big question that I will have to think through the consequences of withdrawal very carefully."

Mr Davies welcomed William Hague, now Lord Hague, to Mid Wales when he moved to a mansion near Welshpool after standing down in the May elections. He said he respected his view on staying in Europe and shared his concerns about the issue affecting the unity of the party.

He added: "I have huge respect for Lord Hague.

"His announcement that he favours remaining in the EU is no surprise to anyone who has worked with William over recent years. He was for many years a brilliant foreign secretary, and I respect his judgement about what is best for the UK.

"But I have not shared his experiences, and do not share his certainty.

"Personally, I think it is better to listen to the debates that will dominate British politics in 2016 before deciding which way I will vote."

Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard agreed with Mr Davies, adding: "The process of Government needs to continue even during the referendum campaign. This includes the Government having to make major decisions at cabinet level during this period.

"It would be slightly odd to have some members of the cabinet who were working against each other. If ministers can't get behind the Prime Minister, then why are they serving in the government in the first place?"

Ludlow MP Philip Dunne, who is also minister of state for defence procurement, said he currently respected the principle of collective responsibility within the cabinet and said the Prime Minister should be allowed to choose his own course of action.

He said: "I am backing the Prime Minister's efforts to secure a renegotiation of Britain's membership of the EU.

"I will make my view clear about the EU referendum when I know what the UK will secure from this renegotiation.

"The Prime Minster will not decide on collective responsibility until this renegotiation has concluded."

David Cameron presented his bid to reform the EU at the European Council summit earlier this month.

No 10 says no decision on a free vote will be made until negotiations finish, which is likely to be in February.

Mr Cameron wants to get a new deal for the UK before putting its membership to a referendum, which has been promised by the end of 2017.

Telford MP Lucy Allan was not available for comment.