Tony Blair: Cameron on the EU is like a scene from Blazing Saddles "It reminds me a bit of the Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles," Mr Blair said. "The sheriff... holds a gun to his own head and says, "If you don't do what I want I'll blow my brains out." "You want to watch that one of the 26 [EU member states] don't just say "Well OK -go ahead."" The Prime Minister was this afternoon cheered by his own party in the House of Commons, after he promised a referendum by the end of 2017 in this morning's speech. In a move that risked infuriating European leaders, he has also called for wider reform of the EU allowing countries to define their own relationships with Brussels. Several foreign ministers from Germany, France and Italy dismissed Mr Cameron's chances of getting a fresh settlement with Brussels or deeper reform of the whole EU. However Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, said she is ready to listen to Britain's "wishes" over the EU and will help find a compromise to stop it heading for the exit door. In what will be seen as a major boost for Mr Cameron, Mrs Merkel said she wants to see a deal after David Cameron called for radical EU reforms and promised a public vote on Britain's membership. "Germany, and I personally, want Britain to be an important part and an active member of the European Union," she said today.