We'd be MAD to leave Europe: David Cameron's covert battle against the 'madness' of cutting ties with EU

Prime Minister backing secret move by pro-European Tory MPs



Said to be 'pleased' that Barack Obama opposes the UK leaving EU



Mr Cameron's views mark sharp contrast with comments of George Osborne

Sources say PM does not believe withdrawal is 'realistic or desirable'



Disclosures come week before keynote speech on plans for EU referendum



Support: David Cameron is secretly supporting a move by pro-European Tory MPs warning of the dangers of the UK leaving the EU

David Cameron thinks it would be ‘mad’ for Britain to leave the EU and is secretly backing a move by Tory MPs to warn of the perils of cutting all our ties with Brussels.

The Prime Minister was also ‘pleased’ at US President Barack Obama sending a clear signal that the White House is opposed to the UK leaving the European Union.

The disclosures signal a key softening in tone in Mr Cameron’s rhetoric on Europe, and come a week ahead of his keynote speech on plans for an EU referendum after the next Election.

Moreover, his view that Britain cannot simply walk away from Brussels is in contrast with comments made by George Osborne on Friday.

The Chancellor made it clear he believed British withdrawal is still on the table, saying bluntly: ‘In order that we can remain in the EU, the EU must change.’

But those close to Mr Cameron say he does not believe withdrawal is ‘realistic or desirable’.

And he thinks hardline Eurosceptics who think Britain can go it alone regardless of the effect on trade and jobs – or what America and other key nations think – are ‘mad’.

The Prime Minister’s supporters deny a rift with Mr Osborne. They say the Chancellor’s comments were intended mainly as a ‘negotiating tactic’ to force Brussels to make concessions, and make it easier to win a referendum on Britain’s continued links with the EU.

One insider said that Cameron and Osborne were deliberately using a ‘good cop, bad cop’ approach to get a better deal for Britain, with the PM playing the good cop.

In a speech in the Netherlands on January 22, Mr Cameron is due to spell out how he intends to win back key powers for Westminster, as well as details of a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU to be held after the next General Election.



Support: The Prime Minister is said to be 'pleased' that Barack Obama has sent a clear message that the EU is opposed to Britain withdrawing from the UK

But there are growing fears among Eurosceptic Ministers that if he fails to make it clear that quitting is an option, it may spark a new Tory civil war with the growing number of MPs and grass roots supporters who want to leave.

Party tensions are likely to be inflamed by a claim that Downing Street has given covert backing to a public letter signed by around 20 Conservative MPs, which says quitting would cause ‘massive damage’ to Britain economically and diplomatically.

Contrast: The PM's softened position differs from that of Chancellor George Osborne, who has made it clear that British withdrawal is still on the table

Swindon MP Robert Buckland, who describes himself as ‘a Eurorealist, neither Europhobe nor Europhile’, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘There is a silent majority out there who do not want Britain to leave the EU.

‘It would be defeatist and of massive detriment to the UK and our influence would be greatly diminished, as the White House made clear.

‘The danger for the Tories is that because the Right-wing Eurosceptics are making the most noise, we could slide towards the exit door of the EU.’

Significantly, Mr Buckland added: ‘I have been told No 10 views my efforts as being helpful. The Prime Minister is a Eurorealist.

'He wants us to stay in the EU while having a debate about the terms of our membership, but it must not be used as a Trojan horse to get us to leave.’

Mr Buckland said his letter, due to be published this week, would provide ‘an important counterbalance for No 10 before the PM’s speech.’



Rift: Mr Cameron will consult Mr Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, pictured, and French President Francois Hollande before his EU speech in an attempt to prevent a rift

His claim was reinforced by a close friend of the Prime Minister, who said he was glad that prominent businessmen such as Sir Richard Branson and PR guru Roland Rudd spoke out strongly last week against the dangers of British withdrawal.

At the same time, Philip Gordon, President Obama’s assistant secretary of state for European affairs, said it would be in American interests for Britain to remain in the EU.

Mr Cameron is convinced the case for quitting will collapse as it is studied in detail. ‘We have seen these so-called popular referendum campaigns disintegrate time and again,’ said the friend.

Silent: Conservative MP Robert Buckland said: 'There is a silent majority out there who do not want Britain to leave the EU'

‘In the 1975 referendum on Europe, all the opinion polls said people would vote to pull out, but the opposite happened.



The same happened in last year’s referendum on ditching Parliament’s “first past the post” voting system.

‘And when the PM ignored the Doubting Thomases and took on Alex Salmond over Scottish independence last year, support for Salmond melted like spring snow.

‘The PM is happy to take on anti-EU fanatics who say “let’s get out” without thinking it through.’

Mr Cameron is irked by the rising popularity of UKIP and its leader Nigel Farage.

According to the polls, 16 per cent of the electorate would vote for the anti-Brussels party, largely as a result of Tory supporters switching allegiance.

‘The PM is adamant that when Farage and his nutters are put under proper scrutiny, people will turn against them when they realise many of their leading individuals are barmy with deeply unpleasant views,’ said one Conservative.

And Mr Cameron is dismissive of those who say Britain can emulate Norway and Switzerland, which thrive outside the EU.



‘We are not Norway or Switzerland and we do not want to be,’ said one aide.

In an attempt to prevent a rift with other nations, the Prime Minister will consult Mr Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande before his EU speech.

Mrs Merkel has already warned Mr Cameron not to ‘blackmail’ the EU in to changing its relationship with the UK.