Cameron heading for Commons defeat over EU budget

By Ian Dunt

David Cameron could suffer a humiliating defeat in the Commons today, as Labour teams up with his own backbenchers to call for an EU budget cut.

The opposition will whip its MPs to vote with Tory rebels who tabled an amendment demanding the prime minister go further than merely demanding a freeze in the EU budget.

The remarkable co-operation between Labour and right-wing Tory backbenchers could see Cameron suffer another defeat over Europe, after 81 of his own MPs rebelled on the issue last year.

Senior Conservatives will now be frantically trying to get potentially rebellious Tory MPs on side before the vote, although the party's past record on EU votes suggests it may be difficult to impose discipline.