.PM warned ministers must quit if they want to campaign to leave the EU
.Insisted 100-plus paid ministers wouldn't have a free hand in referendum
.But No.10 today insisted toeing the line only applies to renegotiation
.At least five Cabinet ministers thought to be ready to campaign for Out
David Cameron was today forced to deny threatening to sack sack ministers who want for to campaign for Britain to leave the EU, claiming his remarks had been 'misinterpreted'.
The Prime Minister used a press conference in Germany to insist his demand for loyalty only extends to his renegotiation of Britain's EU membership, and not his planned referendum.
In chaotic scenes, a junior minister appeared on the radio defending the 'back me or I'll sack you' threat just as Downing Street was preparing to shift its position.
One furious senior Tory MP told MailOnline: 'They must make up their f***ing minds.'
Prime Minister David Cameron has sought to quell a Tory revolt over his plans for a referendum
The Prime Minister used a press conference in Germany to insist his demand for loyalty only extends to his renegotiation of Britain's EU membership, and not his planned referendum
Mr Cameron has pledged to renegotiate Britain's membership of the EU before staging an in-out referendum by 2017, and possibly as early as next May.
Senior ministers who want to leave the EU hope to remain in the government while campaigning for Brexit.
Mr Cameron last night briefed reporters at the G7 summit in Bavaria, and appeared to repeat an earlier insistence that all ministers must toe the government line.
With most newspapers and the BBC reporting his threat, Tory minister James Wharton went on the radio at 7.50am to defend the idea that the Cabinet must vote in the same way.
It is clear to me that what I said yesterday was misinterpreted
Prime Minister David Cameron
But by 11.15am Downing Street was in reverse, insisting the Prime Minister was only demanding ministers support his renegotiation plans.
This afternoon Mr Cameron tried to clear up the confusion, claiming: 'It is clear to me that what I said yesterday was misinterpreted. I was clearly referring to the process of renegotiation.
'But the point is this. I have always said what I want is an outcome for Britain that keeps us in a reformed EU. But I have also said we don't know the outcome of these negotiations, which is why I have always said I rule nothing out.
'Therefore it would be wrong to answer hypothetical questions. I know that can be frustrating. I know you want to jump to the end of the process and have all the questions answered now about the end of that process.
'That is not going to be possible. You are going to have to take this stage by stage, step by step and you will get the answers.'
But the remarks will do little to quell the sense of chaos over the government's policy, with Number 10 buffeted by Tory Eurosceptics furious at the idea that ministers would be forced out of office to campaign to leave the EU.
Prime Minister David Cameron (pictured with President Obama today at the G7 summit in Berlin) last night insisted that anyone who wants to remain in the government must agree with his view of campaigning towards a 'successful outcome' but today Downing Street backtracked
WHO SAID WHAT: HOW THE PM'S POSITION CHANGED IN 24 HOURS
David Cameron in Germany
SUNDAY
David Cameron briefing, Schloss Elmau, Germany
QUESTION: Can I just check, on the EU referendum, have you absolutely closed your mind to allowing ministers a free vote? That's a no-no?
CAMERON: I've been very clear, which is I've said that if you want to be part of the government, you have to take the view that we are engaged in an exercise of renegotiation to have a referendum, and that will lead to a successful outcome.
QUESTION: So anyone in government who opposes that will have to resign?
PRIME MINISTER: Everyone in government has signed up to the programme set out in the Conservative manifesto. Thank you. See you all later. Enjoy the mountain.
MONDAY
7.50am, local government minister James Wharton, BBC Radio 4
WHARTON: 'If the Government is taking a government position, if collective responsibility is applied, if you don't want to support that position you have to leave.
'You are then free to campaign for whatever you want, to vote for whoever you want.
'If we get to a position where the Government's position is that this renegotiation has been successful – and the details will be there for everyone to see when we get to that point – then it is reasonable to expect that collective responsibility will apply.'
11.15am, lobby briefing
PM'S OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN: 'Clearly there are two phases to this - renegotiation and referendum. And if you look at what he said yesterday, it is clear he was talking about renegotiation. We are not getting into hypotheticals of the approach to the referendum.'
Speaking last night, Mr Cameron told reporters: 'If you want to be part of the government, you have to take the view that we are engaged in an exercise of renegotiation to have a referendum, and that will lead to a successful outcome.'
Asked at the G7 Summit in Bavaria whether rebel ministers would have to quit, he replied: 'Everyone in government has signed up to the programme set out in the Conservative manifesto.'
The remarks sparked a furious row. Former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell told the Guardian that threatening to sack ministers 'will put too much pressure on the parliamentary party and the lid could blow off'.
Tory MP David Davis, a former Europe minister, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the move would be 'unwise' and would lead to the 'extraordinary' prospect of ministers not having the 'freedom to vote and speak on it'.
Local government minister James Wharton then appeared on the radio at 7.50am this morning to defend the policy of sacking ministers who want to campaign to leave the EU.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'If the Government is taking a Government position, if collective responsibility is applied, if you don't want to support that position you have to leave.
'You are then free to campaign for whatever you want, to vote however you want.'
But within hours the Prime Minister's official spokesman told reporters that in fact no decision had been made on how ministers must behave during the referendum campaign.
'The Prime Minister was clearly talking yesterday on the position of collective responsibility during the renegotiation, a position that the PM has set out previously. A position I think has been over-interpreted.
'Clearly there are two phases to this - renegotiation and referendum.
'And if you look at what he said yesterday, it is clear he was talking about renegotiation. We are not getting into hypotheticals of the approach to the referendum.'
The confusion sparked condemnation in the Tory ranks. A senior Conservative MP told MailOnline: 'They must make up their f***ing minds. When it comes to Europe, the Tories go off the reservation.
'We are irrational. If he pushes too hard and says people in his government must toe the line, he will have trouble.'
At least five Cabinet ministers are thought to be considering campaigning for Britain to quit the EU.
They want Mr Cameron to copy Harold Wilson's example in the 1975 EU referendum when ministers were allowed to campaign on either side.
Mr Wilson himself and the majority of his cabinet, including Chancellor Denis Healey, Foreign Secretary James Callaghan and Home Secretary Roy Jenkins, fought for the UK to stay in the EEC.
But cabinet ministers Michael Foot, Tony Benn, Peter Shore, Eric Varley, and Barbara Castle joined the unsuccessful campaign for withdrawal.
In January, Mr Cameron made clear that he would not allow his ministers to campaign for exit as Harold Wilson did in the 1970s.
The BBC's Andrew Marr said: 'So you're not going to do a free vote as Labour did in, in the 70s?'
Mr Cameron replied: 'No, I've set out that very clearly in the past.'
Mr Cameron, pictured today with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, faces a backlash from his ministers if he threatens to fire them
WHAT CAMERON SAID IN JANUARY
David Cameron warned Cabinet ministers would not get a free vote in January
On Sunday January 4, David Cameron appeared on BBC One's Andrew Marr show and ruled out giving Cabinet ministers a free vote.
MARR Would you give cabinet ministers and other Conservatives who want to campaign for an out, the freedom to do so in such a referendum?
CAMERON Well, there are Conservative Members of Parliament who want the leave the European Union...
MARR Yes, there are.
CAMERON ... come what may, but if you're part of the government, then clearly you're part of the team that is aiming for the renegotiation...
MARR (over) So you're not going to do a free vote as Labour did in, in the 70s.
CAMERON No, I've set out that very clearly in the past.
A Ukip spokesman said: 'As far as we can work out after the referendum quadrille, Mr Cameron has left us with the impression that Ministers will, or wont be punished with the sack if they voice doubts about his negotiations or his strategy.
'But what happens after the negotiations succeed or fail? Well ministers now know that they don't know what the situation will be then.
'This is the Prime Ministers strategy in a nutshell, say one thing, get caught out, say something else, level; all as clear as mud and hope that the electorate doesn't notice'.
Despite Number 10's backtracking today, government sources last night confirmed that the Prime Minister was very clear that ministers will have to support a collective position in the referendum.
Tory MP Steve Mr Baker, chairman of the newly-formed Conservatives for Britain campaigning to leave the EU, said he believed some Cabinet ministers would resign rather than campaign in favour of staying in the EU.
He told BBC Radio 5Live: 'If we don't get a sovereign Parliament, I would be quite surprised if one or two don't resign. But that really is a matter for them.'
Graham Brady, chairman of the powerful backbench Tory 1922 Committee, that MPs should be given 'space' to express 'deeply held convictions'.
'It is generally better to work with the grain, to engage colleagues, than to try to force them into places where they cannot go,' Mr Brady told Total Politics magazine.
'And in terms of the referendum and certainly the process of healing, I think it is easier the more space people be given to express their honest deeply held convictions.'
London Mayor Boris Johnson, newly elected MP for Uxbridge, appeared to sidestep the question of whether ministers should be allowed to take different sides.
Instead he stressed that Mr Cameron had left open the option of supporting an Out vote.
'If the Prime Minister doesn't get the reform he wants in Brussels, which I think is very, very, very unlikely, but if he were to fail in that ambition, then clearly he would be recommending a No to the British public,' Mr Johnson said. 'But it cannot be true that we're going into negotiations signed up automatically to say Yes to whatever the outcome is, that cannot be right.
'Clearly it's very important to go into negotiations with the strongest possible position and that means if you don't like the deal you get, you've got to be able to walk away.'
In another development, which raised Eurosceptic fears that ministers want a 'quick win' in the poll, the Prime Minister confirmed the entire government machine will be thrown behind his position during the referendum campaign.
Mr Cameron (second right) is in southern Germany for a meeting of G7 leaders, where EU reform is not on the agenda but has dominated talks in the margins
Pictured at the G7 summit are (left to right): President of the European Council Donald Tusk, Obama, European Union Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Hollande, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim and British Prime Minister David Cameron
The move to lift the embargo on 'unlimited' public funds going on political campaigning was questioned by the elections watchdog. Eurosceptic Tory MPs threatened a revolt over the issue.
Barack Obama said yesterday he would back Britain remaining a member of the EU. Speaking ahead of talks with Mr Cameron at the G7 Summit, the US president said: 'We have no closer partner around the world on a whole host of issues.
'I would note that one of the great values of having the UK in the European Union is its leadership and strength on a whole host of global challenges, so we very much are looking forward to the UK staying part of the European Union because we think its influence is positive not just for Europe, but also for the world.'
MOST PEOPLE WANT TO STAY IN EU... BUT THE QUESTION MATTERS
A new survey reveals more than half of people would vote to remain in the European Union
More than half of people would vote to stay in the European Union - but the question alters the result, a new poll shows.
A ComRes survey for the Daily Mail shows that on the question the pollster usually asks found 51 per cent of people would vote to remain in the EU with 16 per cent opting to leave.
The question is: 'If a referendum were held tomorrow on whether or not the UK should stay in or leave the European Union (EU), how would you vote?'
But support for staying in was higher when the government's proposed question was put to voters: 'Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?'
Tom Mludzinski, head of political polling at ComRes said: 'As ever, an election is won by those who turn up. The 'Yes' side is strongest among younger generations who are least likely to vote, but also among the more affluent who tend to turnout.
'These key groups will be the ones to watch as the referendum draws closer. Building up support among those who are unlikely to vote, as Labour did, will ultimately end in failure. Targeting the regular voters is the key to success in this referendum.'
Where key ministers stand on the issue of Europe
Downing Street has made clear that David Cameron has not ruled out ministers campaigning on opposite sides in his promised referendum on Britain's continued membership of the European Union.
This is how some key ministers line up:
GEORGE OSBORNE: The Chancellor of the Exchequer is expected to play a key role in the Government's effort to re-negotiate the terms of Britain's membership. As one of the Mr Cameron's closest political allies he can be expected to back the Prime Minister in calling for a Yes vote if he recommends staying in.
PHILIP HAMMOND: The Foreign Secretary is another key player. Publicly he is very much on board with the re-negotiation strategy but has gone further than the Prime Minister in suggesting that he would vote to leave the EU if the referendum was held under the present membership terms. He has warned that the country will not support continued membership unless there is 'substantial reform'. A possible No voter if ministers are given the freedom to campaign with their conscience.
THERESA MAY: The Home Secretary is also behind the re-negotiation while calling for reform of the free movement of labour within the EU - something many EU leaders resolutely reject. Widely assumed to harbour ambitions to succeed Mr Cameron when he stands down, MPs will wonder whether that could sway her judgment when it comes to the referendum vote.
Several senior Tories have indicated they would vote to leave the EU on current terms, including Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has warned Mr Cameron in private that he will face resignations unless he allows ministers to campaign with their consciences
MICHAEL GOVE: The Justice Secretary is generally seen as one of Mr Cameron's strongest supporters in the Cabinet. He has, nevertheless, gone further than most in suggesting that he is not happy with Britain's current position in the EU and life outside could be 'tolerable' and could even hold certain advantages. How he decides to vote will be watched closely.
IAIN DUNCAN SMITH: The Work and Pensions Secretary is regarded as the most committed Eurosceptic in the Cabinet. As a backbencher in the 1990s he was a constant thorn in the side of John Major, leading the opposition to the Maastricht Treaty. Many MPs believe that he would rather walk away from the Government than back a campaign for Britain to remain in the EU.
London mayor Boris Johnson (right) and Business Secretary Sajid Javid have also indicated they would vote to leave the European Union
SAJID JAVID: The Business Secretary is among the Eurosceptics around the Cabinet table who may think twice about supporting a Yes campaign. As a protege of Mr Osborne, however, he may be reluctant to oppose the Government line if Mr Cameron recommends a Yes vote.
CHRIS GRAYLING: The Leader of the House is another firmly in the Eurosceptic camp. As justice secretary in the last parliament, he raised the prospect that Britain could pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights. He may not feel the same ties of personal loyalty to Mr Cameron as ministers like Michael Gove. Another possible No.
BORIS JOHNSON: Not yet a member of the Government but widely tipped for a senior ministerial post once his term as London Mayor ends next year. He has said Britain should 'walk away' from the EU if Mr Cameron was not able to secure a good deal. Campaigning for a No vote could provide a platform for him to launch a leadership bid of his own.
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