Eurosceptics slam Cameron's 'back-door' bailout

12 April 2012

David Cameron faced rising discontent among Tory MPs today over his willingness to help bail out single currency countries "by the back door".

The Cabinet's two most ardent Eurosceptics, Iain Duncan Smith and Owen Paterson, were tonight meeting the Prime Minister privately to discuss concerns about the direction of Coalition policy on a range of European issues.

The pair were expected to warn of a growing mood in the party that policy was being dictated too much by the Liberal Democrats.

Meanwhile, backbenchers stepped up demands for a vote on plans for a £10 billion increase in loan guarantees given through the International Monetary Fund, on top of a previous £9.5 billion rise.

Former Cabinet minister John Redwood said MPs had been misled by ministers in July when they were asked to vote through the first rise. He said MPs had been told they were only voting for one increase, not two. "It appeared we were being asked to approve an extra £9.5 billion," said Mr Redwood. "Double that would in my view be worse."

Mr Cameron insists that there is no need for another vote. Over dinner at No 11 tonight Mr Duncan Smith and Mr Paterson are expected to tell the Premier to toughen his stance on Europe and to bring forward clear plans to negotiate the return of powers lost to Brussels.

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