EU referendum vote 'did not threaten government'
MPs have rejected a call for a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union, despite a significant rebellion against Prime Minister David Cameron.
The debate was sparked by a petition signed by more than 100,000 people, calling for a referendum on whether the UK should stay in the EU, leave it or renegotiate its membership.
Before the debate began, David Cameron told MPs it was the wrong time for a referendum and urged them not to rebel.
Leader of the House of Commons Sir George Young said he believed 80 or 80 Conservative MPs had rebelled, but it was right that the house had a free and open debate.
24 Oct 2011
- From the section UK Politics