Ukip support at record levels over European Union He is expected to give a speech before Christmas outlining plans to give the British public a say on the EU and promised to repatriate some powers. However, eurosceptic Tories want action now, with David Davis, a former Europe minister, setting out proposals for a two-step referendum on the UK's membership of the EU by 2014. The first question would ask whether the public wanted to renegotiate Britain's relationship with the EU and the second would ask whether any resulting new deal was good enough or whether Britain should quit Europe. The row over Europe is causing increasing tensions within the Conservatives and the Coalition. Ken Clarke, a Cabinet minister, yesterday urged his party to stop having a "nervous breakdown" over Europe, while Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, said now would be a "spectacularly bad time" to have a referendum. The CBI, the business group, and Labour have also warned Mr Cameron not to step away from Europe. Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said Britain must not "sleepwalk" towards an exit from Brussels, as other member states begin to brace themsleves for the possibility that the UK could leave. According to a report in the FT, the EU is considering devising budget plans without Britain in the discussions.