David Cameron could face a second Commons vote on an EU referendum – and campaigners hope to force him to allow a free vote, reports Political Editor Jonathan Walker

The West Midlands MEP whose campaign led to the historic Commons vote on an EU referendum has vowed to carry on her battle – and to launch a new petition calling for a fresh Parliamentary debate.

Nikki Sinclaire condemned Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband for imposing a three-line whip on MPs. Her new petition will specifically state that MPs must be allowed a free vote, she said.

The original Commons vote, which has sparked a major political crisis for Mr Cameron, was prompted by Ms Sinclaire’s success in collecting more than 120,000 signatures on a petition demanding a referendum on whether to leave the EU.

A motion calling for a referendum was defeated by 483 votes against to 111 in favour, but this represented a major rebellion by back-benchers against party leaders who ordered them to vote against. Of the rebels, 79 were Conservatives.

Many MPs have joined Ms Sinclaire in complaining that the decision to impose a whip effectively gagged the Commons.

The demand for a referendum, which would have allowed the public to choose between remaining in the EU on the current terms, renegotiating the UK’s terms of membership or quitting entirely, received strong support in the West Midlands and was backed by 13 MPs.

They included Dan Byles (Con North Warwickshire and Bedworth), Bill Cash (Con Stone), Roger Godsiff (Lab Hall Green), Marcus Jones (Con Nuneaton), Chris Kelly (Con Dudley South), Jeremy Lefroy (Con Stafford), Karen Lumley (Con Redditch), Steve McCabe (Lab Selly Oak), James Morris (Con Halesowen & Rowley Regis), Mark Pritchard (Con The Wrekin), Richard Shepherd (Con Aldridge Brownhills), Gisela Stuart (Lab Edgbaston) and Robin Walker (Con Worcester).

Ms Sinclaire secured the debate thanks to last year’s Coalition Agreement drawn up by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, which promised: “We will ensure that any petition that secures 100,000 signatures will be eligible for formal debate in Parliament”.

Writing in the Birmingham Post, she said: “In response to a petition created in good faith by over 120,000 people, they block their ears with three-line whips. They’re damned if they see why they should take orders from us any more just because we pay their salaries.”

She added: “How much more contempt will we put up with from our servants? Lobby your MPs. Hit the streets. I will be putting together another petition. We are sovereign. We decide how we are governed and by whom.

“I happen to be opposed to the EU. You may think it’s the best thing since the garlic baguette. It makes no difference.

“All democrats should now unite and put our servants and representatives back in their place.”

Ms Sinclaire represented the UK Independence Party when she was elected as West Midlands MEP in 2009, but is now Independent after falling out with party leaders.

One of the most outspoken contributions during the debate itself came from Birmingham MP Steve McCabe (Lab Selly Oak), who was once responsible for discipline within the Parliamentary Labour Party as a former whip.

Attacking all three major parties, he said: “In a little backbench business debate where the normally unimportant little people are expressing their views – views that strike a remarkable chord with the public – the muscle men, the U-turn merchants and the bully boys, the Ministers and the would-be Ministers, are all out to force their say.

“What they are saying is, ‘all you little Cinderellas can go to the ball, but you can’t dance’.”

And the MP, who went on to vote for a referendum in defiance of instructions from party leader Ed Miliband, said: “I think I am entitled to vote how I damn well like.”

Tory rebels included ministerial aides, Adam Holloway and Stewart Jackson, who voted for a referendum knowing they would lose their unpaid Government jobs.

Speaking after the vote, Black Country Conservative MP James Morris (Halesowen & Rowley Regis) explained why he had been driven to rebel against the Government for the first time.

He said: “This is the first time that I have voted against the Government but I strongly believe that people must be given a say about whether we remain in the EU.

“I’ve been listening to local people and businesses and whilst there was a mixture of views as to whether we should stay in or withdraw from the EU, almost everybody agreed that voters should be given a chance to decide.”

But some Conservatives expressed concern that a referendum on the EU would damage Britain’s economy.

Speaking during the debate, Conservative Aidan Burley (Lab Cannock Chase) said: “I must consider the impact that passing this motion would have on my constituents.

"That is the key point. Businessmen have told me that there are signs that give cause for optimism, but that the recovery is fragile.

“Those businessmen’s fear, and mine, is that the announcement of a referendum, involving the campaign extending to 2013 for which the motion calls, could have a devastating effect on business confidence and investment.”

He added: “At a time when business is crying out for stability, a referendum would move it in totally the opposite direction, creating yet more instability when what we need is foreign investment.

"While that businessman would not oppose a referendum in principle, now is simply not the time for one.”