David Cameron - Revolt to Resignation?

As the Libyan rebels announce the liberation of their country, the Conservative backbenchers have discovered their own revolutionary spirit. So was the vote on an EU referendum just a hiccup in Cameron's premiership or is it the start of a slippery slope to a resignation?



Two days ago the commons was forced in to a debate and vote by 100,000 people who signed a petition asking for it. This new initiative by the government is great, it allows us normal people to have a say on what happens in the illusive rooms of Westminster. However it did drive the Conservatives into a bit of a pickle, the vote was whether or not we should hold a referendum about British EU membership. It would have consisted of three options, maintaining the status quo, rearranging our relationship with the EU or completely withdrawing from the institution. Among the leadership there was a cross party consensus but among the backbenchers the smell of revolt was in the air.

Many Conservative MPs had explained to their constituents their desire for a referendum in regard to the European Union. Most do not wish a full withdrawal but a rearranging of the relationship. This is also what David Cameron said he wished but he claimed it was not the time. I agree with this, the Euro is in a bad way and Britain looking more eurosceptic then it already does will only make things worse. I also don't think that the government should get wrapped up in another referendum when the economy is only plodding along. So the Tory line was, we will have a referendum but not now, so they asked their MPs to vote against the bill and put a 3 line whip on it. This is basically the highest level of asking the Prime Minister can give to his party to vote with him, any person with a ministerial post is expected to resign from that post if they defy the order. This seemed extravagant for a vote they knew both Labour and the Lib Dems would vote with them, so surely it was practically unanimous, everyone did not want it. Oh wait, 81 Conservative MPs revolted against the 3 line whip. So is Cameron so out of touch with his own party and voters that he has lost his credibility to at least 81 of his MPs?

Why I defy you!


Most MPs who voted against the governments order said plainly and with a sense of annoyance to the Prime Minister that their loyalty lay with their constituents who they feel want a referendum. The battle of words in the Commons must have made Cameron's neck hurt as it was more with his own party behind him then the opposition. This was highly embarrassing for the leader of this country as it seemed as though he was having trouble leading his own party. If the debate looked bad the results were catastrophic.

It was a mass mutiny, 81 MPs revolting and voting for the bill, this meant absolutely nothing in real terms as the might of Labour and the Liberal Democrats voted it down but it wrecked Cameron's reputation, or did it?

Is it that bad?


Everyone is making a big play at how it is undermining the PMs leadership and it is very early in his premiership to have such a large defiance from his own party. However, Tony Blair suffered a revolt of 139 of his MPs on the issue of Iraq and he stayed in power for another 5 years.

So this is not good news for Mr. Cameron but it is unlikely to lead to anything major. It is likely to fade in to the ether until the issue is next raised, by that point we will hopefully be more economically stable, and I stress hopefully.