Hague asks MPs to reject EU referendum

British Foreign Secretary William Hague has urged Conservative MPs not to vote yes on an upcoming referendum on UK membership of the European Union, insisting it would affect the economic recovery. Hague, who is one of the Cabinet's major eurosceptics, warned the Conservative MPs against voting for a referendum at the time of "profound economic uncertainty.” His warning came as Prime Minister David Cameron has been facing the worst rebellion of his premiership with over 60 Tory MPs refusing to vote on a referendum in their backbench dispute. Hague insisted that the Tory Party remains committed to “repatriate powers from Brussels,” but declared that a referendum was not the right way to realize this. "As a Conservative, I want to bring powers back from Europe, as we set out in our election manifesto. But a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU, especially at this time of profound economic uncertainty, is not the answer. "Nothing would do more to help our economic recovery than a resolution of the eurozone's difficulties, while its disorderly break-up would have a very serious impact on our economy," He said. Hague's remarks were supported by former Conservative cabinet minister, Peter Lilley- a hard-line euro skeptic, who also warned against a referendum. "If we are in the business of getting back powers from Europe ... then we have to go about negotiating that return of powers and you cannot do that through a referendum," he said. The opportunity will show itself when Europe comes to Britain and the eurozone countries plan to “change the treaty to shore up the euro with further integrationist measures. "We will say then: 'Well you need our support because you need the unanimous support of all the countries to change the treaty. So even though that doesn't affect us we will only give you our support if in return you return some powers to us,'" he added.