Medway's three MPs were among 116 Tories who backed a Commons vote designed to force an in-out referendum on EU membership into law.

The move was defeated by 277 votes to 131 as Lib Dems and Labour opposed it.

The proposed amendment “expressed regret” that a bill paving the way for a referendum in 2017, as pledged by David Cameron, was not included in the Queen’s Speech.

The 116 Tory MPs who backed it represent half of all the party’s backbenchers.

Conservative backbenchers were given a free vote yesterday - meaning they were allowed to vote whichever way they chose.

Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham, Rehman Chishti, MP for Gillingham and Rainham, and Mark Reckless, MP for Rochester and Strood, all backed the amendment.

Conservative MPs are now hoping a draft bill to pave the way for a referendum by 2017 will be adopted by Eurosceptic MP James Wharton (Con), who has topped this year’s ballot of private member’s bills.

The backbencher, one of 116 Tory MPs to back the EU amendment, will now get the chance to introduce his own legislation.

The draw to select 20 MPs who can bring in their own bills, which took place this morning, guarantees decent parliamentary time for the first few.