Cameron challenged from within on EU membership

British prime minister David Cameron’s control over his own party looks set to be challenged after a rebel lawmaker yesterday launched a campaign to bring forward a planned referendum on EU membership to next year.

The move sets up a parliamentary showdown between rival factions of the Conservative Party in November that may reopen divisions Cameron tried to heal earlier this year.

In May — to pacify rebellious eurosceptics in his party and help win back voters lost to anti-EU rivals ahead of a 2015 election — Cameron supported draft legislation promising a referendum on EU membership by the end of 2017.