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Foreign secretary speaks out as Commons prepares to debate motion calling for referendum of UK’s relationship with EU William Hague, has told backbench Eurosceptics that Monday’s Commons vote on pulling out of Europe “is the wrong question at the wrong time”. The foreign secretary spoke out as David Cameron faced the most serious challenge to his authority since taking office. A large number of Conservative MPs are reportedly planning to rebel on the Commons motion, which calls for a referendum on the UK’s relationship with the EU. Cameron will meet parliamentary aides in Downing Street before the vote in an attempt to dissuade as many as 10 members of the government who are minded to rebel against the prime minister, requiring them to resign their posts. The coalition is sticking to its decision to impose a three-line whip on MPs to vote against the motion, despite criticism that it has been too heavy-handed. The motion calls for a nationwide referendum on whether Britain should leave the EU, renegotiate its treaty with Brussels, or remain a member on the current terms. The government will not suffer a defeat because Labour and the Lib Dems will vote down the motion, but a sizeable group of Conservative believes Cameron should honour pledges once made to allow a national vote on Britain’s relationship with Europe. They are calling for the repatriation of social and employment rights. Hague – formerly one of the Tory party’s most high-profile Eurosceptics – defended the leadership’s decision to impose a three-line whip on the grounds that the motion being debated was “completely against the policy of the government”. “This proposition is the wrong question at the wrong time. It was not in the manifesto of either of the governing parties,” he said. “The whole relationship with the European Union is a matter that concerns the government … it is not just something for the House of Commons to put up some graffiti about.” He said an in/out referendum was not the right idea, adding: “I have argued for more referendums than almost anybody else, and I have argued against the euro more comprehensively than almost anybody else, but this proposition … cuts right across the rules for holding referendums that we have just agreed by large majorities. It would create additional economic uncertainty in this country. “The right referendum is that, whenever any government suggests handing more power from Britain to the EU, the British people are consulted – that is the right policy.” The Liberal Democrats do not support the repatriation of powers from Brussels, and the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, issued a statement warning that it was “far too early to speculate” about what the government’s position would be in the event of any moves to change EU treaties. Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem party leader, told Sky News: “I don’t think suddenly getting into a debate about whether or not we should be in the European Union, where we do half our business, is the right thing to do. “I believe that if we have the debate in the future, if the occasion comes up when there is a proposal to transfer powers, that the people, after the debate, will say yes again. “Now, there is an issue about whether the balance of powers is correct but nobody stood on a platform of having a referendum immediately now, just out of the blue. Certainly we didn’t.” The Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin told BBC Breakfast the EU referendum debate was “basically about democracy”. Jenkin, who is in favour of renegotiation rather than leaving the EU, denied the timing for a referendum was poor and said the call was in tune with the wider public. “When even John Major [the former Conservative prime minister who signed the Maastricht Treaty] is saying now is the moment for us to use our leverage to get powers back top the European Union, it would seem a good time,” he said. “Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be a treaty coming down the track to hang a referendum on, so we haven’t got that leverage. This would be an opening shot consultative referendum, to ask the British people about what the dilemma facing this country is. Do we stay in and carry on as now? Do we get out completely, or as the majority of polls show people want, renegotiate our relationship? “I’m sorry about that, but I think the vast majority of MPs know in their hearts there should be a referendum.” But David Lidington, the Conservative minister for Europe, said that, for the wider British public, an EU referendum is “the last thing on their minds”. “I’ve had some identically worded campaign letters from constituents calling for a referendum,” he told Breakfast News. “When I go around the constituency at political and non-political events, this is the last thing on their minds. “What they are worried about are how their school-leaver or graduate children are going to get jobs; they’re worried about the future of public services; they’re concerned about crime and about the welfare system. They want the government to sort out those problems, particularly the challenges as regards employment.” The UK Independence party leaderNigel Farage, said it was fascinating to watch the Conservatives “tear themselves apart over this”. “Polls over the last few days have clearly shown that the general public believe MPs should be able to vote how they like regarding an EU referendum,” the MEP said. “I urge all MPs across the parties to vote with their conscience ahead of their party or career. It is the least the British people deserve.” Cameron attempted to take some of the heat out of the rebellion at the EU summit in Brussels on Sunday. He used a press conference to appeal directly to potential rebels, talking up the chance of repatriating powers with the “possibility” of treaty change coming onto the agenda as early as December as the euro countries push towards fiscal integration. The prime minister said he had proved his ability to exact a good price when he agreed an EU treaty change that created a new mechanism for bailing out troubled eurozone countries but exempted Britain from having to pay for bailouts from 2013. It is not clear whether this would trigger the government’s stated commitment to a referendum because it is due to stage a vote only if new powers are transferred from Westminster to Brussels, and any change by Cameron would be likely to do the reverse. At the summit, Cameron became embroiled in a row with the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy , over Britain’s role in talks to solve the crisis enveloping the euro. Sarkozy apparently told the British prime minister to “shut up” and said he was fed up with him criticising the eurozone countries “and telling us what to do”. William Hague David Cameron Foreign policy Conservatives Liberal-Conservative coalition Labour Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg Simon Hughes UK Independence party (Ukip) European Union Nigel Farage Hélène Mulholland guardian.co.uk