Cameron defeated over EU budget cut (From Hampshire Chronicle)
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Cameron defeated over EU budget cut
7:27pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013
Prime Minister David Cameron has been defeated over the EU budget
The Prime Minister has suffered a humiliating defeat in the Commons as the issue of Europe again split the Conservative Party.
MPs voted by 307 votes to 294, majority 13, in favour of a rebel Tory call for a real-terms cut in the European Union's budget.
It is the first significant defeat in the Commons for the Government and came despite David Cameron's insistence that he was taking a tough stance over the budget negotiations.
The Prime Minister said he would veto any real-terms rise in the 2014/20 multi-annual financial framework.
"At best we would like it cut, at worst frozen, and I'm quite prepared to use the veto if we don't get a deal which is good for Britain," he said.
Treasury minister Greg Clark pleaded with MPs to support the Prime Minister as he went to Europe to "bat for Britain" over the seven-year spending plan.
But Labour MPs lined up behind the Tory rebels in calling for the Government to support nothing less than a real-terms cut in the budget.
The result of the vote is not binding on the Government but is a major embarrassment for ministers.
At Prime Minister's Questions earlier, Mr Cameron clashed with Labour leader Ed Miliband ahead of the vote.
Mr Miliband accused him of "throwing in the towel" over a cut before the negotiations had even begun.
