Commenting on David Cameron’s approach to Europe, Pat McFadden, Labour’s Shadow Europe Minister, said:

“It’s no surprise that David Cameron now faces a further challenge to his leadership over Europe, but whilst it’s a tragedy for the Conservative Party, it could prove disastrous for Britain.  

"We know that the Conservatives have drifted to the right under David Cameron, but we can’t afford to now let them push Britain out of Europe altogether.

"David Cameron’s lack of leadership on Europe now poses a clear threat to our economic prosperity and our national interest. He needs to get a grip and start putting the country’s best interests before his own party’s interest.

"Dragging Britain closer to the EU exit door would be damaging enough if it was David Cameron’s thought out strategy, but worse than that, he is marginalising Britain from Europe without even thinking it through.  A British exit from Europe by default is an even bigger failure of leadership than exit by design.”