The Conservative chief whip Michael Gove has fuelled speculation that the party is preparing to drop its support for the European arrest warrant after he failed to deny holding talks with MPs about changing the official position.

The government is facing a rebellion by several dozen Conservative MPs after the coalition parties struck a tentative deal to keep 35 Europe-wide law and order powers, including the EAW.

Critics including a hardline group of Tory backbenchers claim too many Britons are sent abroad for trial to other European countries under the powers. Supporters argue that it is a vital crime-fighting measure that helps bring offenders to justice. A Commons vote on the issue is due next month.

On Thursday it was reported that Gove had been canvassing the views of Tory MPs in a roundabout way over the possibility of dropping support for the EAW, a move that would infuriate the Liberal Democrats.

Asked about these talks while canvassing in the Rochester & Strood byelection campaign, the chief whip would only say: “The whips’ office is constantly in touch with lots of MPs on lots of issues all the time.”

Pressed again on whether he would like to see the UK stay out of the EAW, he did not repeat the government’s official position of support for retaining the measure, saying: “I am engaged as chief whip in simply making sure I have an opportunity to talk to lots of colleagues about lots of issues all of the time.”

Asked again what he had discussed with Conservative MPs about the EAW, he said: “By definition, conversations that I’ve had with MPs are confidential, I’ve got to respect their confidences, so I can’t really talk about the range of issues or the views they express … My job is to find out what people’s views are and to make sure the prime minister and the cabinet are always aware of a range of views on a range of issues.”

The prime minister’s official spokesman said the government’s position has not changed and “in principle” it would seek to retain the EAW.

Liberal Democrat sources said they had seen no sign from Conservative ministers that the official stance was shifting.