Douglas Alexander MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to Ken Clarke’s comments on the Today programme this morning, said:

“Ken Clarke’s comments show just how far David Cameron has been pushed by his own backbenchers when it comes to Europe.

“David Cameron’s approach to Europe is proving a study in followership not leadership. He is now spending far more time negotiating with his backbenchers to save his job than negotiating with European leaders to secure the changes that Europe needs.

"The truth is that David Cameron’s weakness is now putting jobs and investment in Britain at risk by talking up the threat of exit instead of actually working for reform.

"Labour believes that Europe can and must be made to work better for Britain, but unlike David Cameron, we understand that the right road for Britain is reform in Europe, not exit from Europe.”