TORY MP Richard Drax said he was standing up for his constituents and his country when he backed a motion for a referendum on EU membership.

The South Dorset MP was one of 81 rebel Conserv-atives who defied David Cameron’s three line whip – the strongest order a party can give – to vote for the motion proposing a referendum on the UK’s future in the EU.

The motion, which was put forward by the Backbench Business Committee and supported by an online petition of more than 100,000 signatures, was defeated by 483 votes to 111.

It called for a referendum on whether the UK should stay in the EU, leave the EU or renegotiate the terms of its membership.

Mr Drax, who is minister of state in the Cabinet Office, said he had planned to speak on behalf of his constituents during the five-hour House of Commons debate but wasn’t called.

Speaking after the vote, Mr Drax said: “I’m not here to carve out my name as a rebellious backbencher.

“I’m here to stand up for my constituents and my country.

“I thought there would be fewer Conservatives who voted for the motion. I’m glad there were 81. I take my hat off to all those who voted the same way.

“The EU has changed beyond all recognition to a marauding federalist monster that is gobbling up all our freedoms.

“It was crazy of the government to adopt a heavy-handed approach.”

But West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin said he believed the timing of the motion was wrong.

“The main priority of the government now is to deal with the economic crisis in the Eurozone.

“My belief is that we need to bring the powers back from the EU. Having a resolution from the House of Commons about a referendum to be held in the long and distant future would be very bad at a time when there’s a huge economic crisis.

“I wasn’t at all surprised that some of my colleagues took the view to vote for the motion.

“The good thing is that the debate was very good natured.”

However, Mr Drax believes people in in South Dorset are becoming frustrated with the EU.

He added: “There’s no doubt from speaking to my constituents that we all want a referendum on our future relating to the EU.

“The doubt on Europe has been quashed over the years by those who wrote everyone off as right wing xenophobes.

“There are all these things that go on behind people’s back.

“People are beginning to realise how bad the situation is.”

South West MEP Trevor Colman, of the UK Independence Party, said he applauded all those MPs who defied the three line whip.

He said: “I hope that in the days to come voters will remember just how their MP voted.

“I salute the courage of the 81 Conservatives who stuck by their principles and hope that the Prime Minister feels ashamed of his actions.”