A LEADING Tory rebel said yesterday that voters now face a “fairer” EU referendum after David Cameron’s humiliating defeat in the Commons over an attempt to relax campaigning rules.

Conservative Eurosceptic Bernard Jenkin was part of a 37-strong backbench Tory rebellion, which teamed up with Labour on Monday night to vote against the planned relaxation of “purdah.”

Purdah bars the spending of public money on campaigning in the weeks leading up to an election or referendum.

The Prime Minister had agreed to reinstate purdah but with exceptions, including in relation to ministers and their day-to-day EU business.

But his proposed watered-down version was defeated by 312 votes to 285, a majority of 27.

Mr Jenkin criticised ministers for apparently accepting the principle that purdah should apply but “still trying to dilute it.”