GETTY David Cameron has told MPs to ignore their constituents on Europe

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The Prime Minister provoked outrage when he told Tory MPs to discount the views of the party's 150,000 grassroots members, who are predominantly in favour of severing ties with Brussels. Instead he said they should "do what's in your heart" and not worry about the reaction of ordinary party activists in a thinly-veiled warning to vote with the pro-EU Government. Brexit campaigners said they were "appalled" by Mr Cameron's remarks, which are being seen as the latest attempt to rig the upcoming referendum in favour of Britain staying in the euro-club.

During a fiery session in parliament yesterday the Prime Minister told backbenchers not to take notice of "what your constituency association might say". He told MPs: “If you passionately believe in your heart that Britain is better off outside the EU, then you should vote that way. If you think, even if it’s on balance, I think Britain’s better off in, go with what you think. “Don’t take a view because of what your constituency association might say, or you’re worried about a boundary review, or you think it might be advantageous this way or that way. Do what’s in your heart, if you think it’s right for Britain then do that.”

IG Tory MP Steve Baker, who is heading up the leave campaign, blasted the remarks

GETTY Former Home Secretary David Davis said the Government should listen to grassroots members

But his comments were met with fury by backbenchers and grassroots activists, who said they were the latest example of the Prime Minister trying to swing the vote in favour of Brussels' favour. Conservative members are traditionally staunchly eurosceptic, and Downing Street strategists are fearful that their influence may embolden MPs to break rank with the Government and vote in favour of a Brexit. Local associations are also in charge of selecting constituency candidates, and so hold the power to potentially boot out MPs who do not back leaving Europe when the next general election comes around.

They are motivated by a desire to do what is best for their country - the Government would do well to do the same Former shadow home secretary David Davis

The remarks are not the first run-in Mr Cameron has had with grassroots members of his party, who he once controversially described as "mad, swivel-eyed loons" who were forcing MPs to take hardline positions on Europe. He is now planning to hold a series of meetings with backbenchers in which he will urge them to “follow their conscience” and not be swayed by their local associations.But backbench MPs and activists today lined up to blast his comments, which they branded "contemptuous" and against the spirit of democracy. Bernard Jenkin, the MP for Harwich and North Essex, said: “The Prime Minister appears to understand that most of our membership are going to ‘vote leave’. What he does not appear to understand is that most of his MPs would like to ‘vote leave’.”

IG Tory Andrew Rosindell said the Prime Minister was 'wrong' to make the demand

GETTY Mr Cameron's order angered grassroots members, who said his remarks were 'contemptuous'

Steve Baker, chairman of Conservatives for Britain, told the Telegraph: “Members of Parliament are political leaders and they will be expected to take a lead during the referendum campaign. “It is inconceivable that they will get through the referendum campaign without people asking them to express their view, which way they are going to vote and why. “Given that we are also representatives it is perfectly reasonable that we should listen to the voices of our constituents and in particular association members views.” David Davis, a former shadow home secretary, added: “The people who he is trying to comment about are people who have had very passionate views about this for decades – their associations know full well what their views are. “They are not motivated by a desire to please their associations but by a desire to do what is best for their country. The Government would do well to do the same.”