Leading Tories campaigning for Britain to leave the EU fear they may be doomed to defeat already, thanks to infighting between rival anti-Brussels factions.

The divisions emerged as Nigel Farage vowed to defy Tory plans to stop him taking centre-stage in the run-up to the EU vote, which could take place as soon as next May.

Many Eurosceptic Tories believe the Ukip leader is too outspoken and will deter middle-of-the-road voters from backing an EU exit.

The Conservative Party divisions emerged as Nigel Farage vowed to defy Tory plans to stop him taking centre-stage in the run-up to the EU vote

Mr Farage’s vow to ‘get cracking with the No campaign’ came as:

● Right-wing Tory MP John Redwood was booed by Ukip supporters when he vowed to back David Cameron’s bid to win back key powers for Britain.

● Senior executives working for Rupert Murdoch’s British newspapers staged a mini-revolt – after The Mail on Sunday disclosed last week that the media mogul has done a U-turn and no longer believes that Britain should leave the EU.

● A prominent Eurosceptic Tory MP compared splits in the anti-EU campaign to the ‘Judean People’s Front’ versus the ‘People’s Front of Judea’, in a reference to the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

● Former Tory Cabinet Minister Owen Paterson accused David Cameron of ‘flagrant gerrymandering’ for trying to scrap a rule that would prevent him from using Government resources to campaign to stay in the EU.

Right-wing Tory MP John Redwood was booed by Ukip supporters when he vowed to back David Cameron’s bid to win back key powers for Britain

Mr Farage said it was vital to start the ‘No’ campaign now, in case Mr Cameron calls an early referendum in 2016, well ahead of his December 2017 deadline.

He claimed it was vital for Ukip to lead the drive to cut ties with Brussels, as Tory Eurosceptics might back out at the last minute. ‘I suspect their loyalty to the Conservative party may be greater than their loyalty to the country and this cause,’ he said.

Ex-Cabinet Minister Mr Redwood was booed by Ukip activists at a meeting of the anti-EU Bruges Group think-tank. He had said it was important to support Mr Cameron’s ‘honest intent’ to win back vital powers for Britain in a renegotiation.

According to one witness, the MP said he would vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum if the Prime Minister succeeded.

Mr Redwood said last night: ‘If Mr Cameron gets our democracy back I will support him, if he doesn’t I will vote to come out.’

There were animated exchanges at a dinner hosted by Mr Murdoch on Wednesday for senior executives of his UK media empire, which includes The Sun and The Times. Justice Secretary and former Times journalist Michael Gove was also at the event.

‘Several people present who are strongly in favour of leaving the EU said it was vital that the papers were free to retain the option of campaigning to leave the EU – even if only to get more concessions from Brussels,’ said one insider.

A source close to Mr Murdoch said: ‘Rupert was happy with that – but it doesn’t change the reality, which is that he is no longer in favour of leaving the EU.’

Rupert Murdoch, whose media empire includes The Sun and The Times, discussed the EU referendum with Chancellor George Osborne

Mr Murdoch also discussed the issue at a private dinner with Chancellor George Osborne.

Several Eurosceptic Tory MPs admit that rifts between anti-Brussels factions could be fatal to their cause.

One said last night: ‘One of the main reasons we lost the 1975 referendum on the Common Market was because it was led by people like Michael Foot and Enoch Powell and we looked odd. Too many of our supporters look like zealots. We argue over personal and political issues like a Brussels version of Monty Python’s Holy Grail.’